Gambian Man Charged with Raping 3 Women At Massage Parlours In Malta

A Gambian man, identified as Harona Conateh, has been charged with raping three women at three different massage parlours in Sliema and Birkirkara, Malta.

The 32-year-old appeared in court on Tuesday and is being held in detention. The accused pleaded not guilty to the rape charges.

Before his court appearance, Conateh tried to escape when a police officer removed his handcuffs but was quickly apprehended.

Conateh faces three counts of rape, each involving a different victim. Sources said he bound one of the victims before raping her at the massage parlour she was working at.

The suspect was identified using CCTV footage, together with informants, leading to his arrest on Qormi Road in Hamrun. A search of his home also revealed clothing matching the one in the footage.

During the arraignment, Conateh initially claimed to be 20 years old, despite his documentation showing he was born on Feb 2, 1992, which is 32 years. He said the date on his documents was a mistake. He also could not recall his birth month.

The magistrate, Donatella Dimech, then asked for Conateh’s phone to be checked. However, he refused to unlock his phone, saying he could not remember the password until the court pressured him further. It was found through his phone that his Facebook account showed that he was 16 years old, born in 2008.

Conateh told the court he was working in the construction industry in Polidano, Malta. His defence lawyer assigned by the country, Ilona Schembri, notified the court of her client’s request to return to Gambia.

“I am eager to return to my homeland,” Conateh told the court. But the court said that he must face trial in Malta first.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the rape charges and did not request for bail. He told the court that he had paid for a massage only for such a purpose.

However, the prosecution told the court that there was enough evidence that Conateh “desired and received much more than a massage.”

According to the magistrate, Conateh will remain in custody, and the case will proceed to a jury trial. Police are also considering additional charges concerning his attempted escape.

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