Former Ambassador to Libya Charged with Rape and Abuse
· Updated
In brief
- Former Maltese ambassador to Libya, Franklin Aquilina, has been charged with rape and abuse.
- The alleged offences involve a female subordinate at the Maltese embassy in Tripoli.
- Mr Aquilina, 51, pleaded not guilty to the 11 charges brought against him in court.
A former Maltese ambassador to Libya, Franklin Aquilina, has appeared in court charged with rape and abuse. Mr Aquilina, 51, pleaded not guilty to the accusations.
The charges stem from alleged offences that took place between 2014 and 2016 while he was serving as ambassador. He faces a total of 11 charges related to these allegations.
The alleged victim is a woman who worked as a subordinate at the Maltese embassy in Tripoli, Libya, at the time of the reported incidents.
Newsbook reported on the charges, stating that a former ambassador was accused of raping a subordinate. Lovin Malta provided further details, identifying the accused as Franklin Aquilina, stating his age, and specifying that he faced 11 charges, including rape and abuse, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The court proceedings are ongoing, with Mr Aquilina denying the allegations against him.
Former Maltese Ambassador to Libya, Franklin Aquilina, has been granted bail by the court. This development follows his arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and abuse.
Mr Aquilina was charged with 11 offences, including rape, against a female subordinate at the Maltese embassy in Tripoli. The court set specific conditions for his bail, which are standard procedure in such cases.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. TVM News reported the factual development of the former ambassador being granted bail without notable framing differences.
Updates
- : Updated: The former ambassador has been granted bail by the court.
- : Updated with reporting from The Malta Independent and ONE News, confirming the former ambassador pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.