Nurse Pleads Not Guilty To Raping Woman In Malta Over Several Months
A 36-year-old nurse from Pakistan has pleaded not guilty to raping a fellow-Pakistani national on more than one occasion in recent months.
The man, Prince Aftab made no request for bail and was therefore remanded in custody. He has been residing in Malta for 10 years and was charged on Sunday morning before duty Magistrate Josette Demicoli, according to The Times of Malta.
The victim, a woman, reportedly flagged the case with the authorities after sharing and discussing the events she claims took place with her psychiatrist.
Defense lawyer for the accused, Dr Shazoo Ghaznavi, expressed his frustration about the speed with which the police moved to file charges. He said they arrested his client just 48 hours after the report was made by the victim, and questioned why more time had not been taken to investigate the claims before filing charges.
Prosecuting inspector Joseph Busuttil reportedly told the court that in Pakistani culture, a woman is viewed in a negative light should she have sex before marriage. He argued that this made it very traumatic and difficult for the victim to share her experience, until she as encouraged by a psychiatrist.
Dr Ghaznavi refuted this, saying this may have been the case some 70 years ago but that the inspector’s statement does not reflect modern-day Pakistan.
After a heated exchange, the inspector refuted claims that he had not carried out the investigation appropriately.
Lawyer Helen Grech assisted Dr Ghaznavi.
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