Priests charged with sexual abuse of altar boy to face formal charges after court rules it has seen enough evidence
Court rules there is enough evidence for Attorney General to issue a bill of indictment against Fr Joseph Sultana and Fr Joseph Cini, accused of sexually abusing an altar boy
1 February 2021, 10:42am
by Kurt Sansone
Fr Joseph Sultana (left) and Fr Joseph Cini (right) exiting the courthouse in Gozo after the first sitting in the compilation of evidence against them. They stand charged with sexual abuse and rape of an altar boy.
A magistrate has ruled that there is enough evidence for the Attorney General to issue a bill of indictment against two priests accused of sexually abusing an altar boy.
11.51am Sultana has been charged and will be kept in police custody after being denied bail.
We re told a second priest, Joseph Cini, will also be arraigned today. That will happen soon.
The magistrate has suspended the sitting until he is brought to court. We will be live blogging Cini s arraignment too.
Case adjourned to February 1
11.47am The magistrate adjourns the case to February 1.
Reminder: police are also expected to arraign a second priest, Joseph Cini, and charge him with similar offences. We do not yet know when that will happen.
Bail denied
11.45am The magistrate refuses the bail request, saying other witnesses have yet to testify. She orders the prosecution to present those witnesses during the next hearing in the case.
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