Two men have been remanded in custody after being charged with raping and trafficking a homeless 14 year old girl in what has been described as one of the worst cases of underage prostitution Malta has ever seen.

Inspector Roxanne Tabone arraigned Ismael Alirou, 28, from Niger and Adama Tonkara, 28, from Mali before magistrate Monica Vella on charges of having of trafficked the 14 year-old girl, raping her, corrupting a minor and participating in sexual activity with a minor, selling her into prostitution and knowingly living off the earnings of prostitution.

Tonkara alone was also charged with being a recidivist and driving without a licence.

The men were arrested after the girl, who was found roaming the streets, told police officers her story.

The men’s lawyer, Noel Bartolo, entered a not guilty plea and requested bail. Inspector Tabone objected to bail due to the gravity of the crime and the men’s lack of ties to Malta.

One of the men shared accommodation – a garage in Hamrun – with 8 other people. The other was homeless, explained the inspector.

Bail was denied.

The young victim is understood to now be in the care of social workers.