Priest who violently assaulted a child gets suspended jail term

MALTA
Times of Malta

A Gozitan priest who committed violent indecent assault against a child has received a suspended sentence.

The priest was condemned to a jail term of one year suspended for three years after facing sexual offence accusations related to three underage girls.

Jesmond Gauci, 44, from Xagħra, was charged with having committed lewd acts against his victims and having violently and indecently assaulted the girls. He was also accused of harassing the youngsters through allegedly offensive mobile and Facebook messages.

The whole affair had come to light when the Gozo Bishop filed a police report over the sexual abuse of a minor by a priest from the diocese.

Police investigations led to the arraignment of the priest, who at the time of the alleged wrongdoing in 2014 were still minors.

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