During the first six months of 2008, the government social support agency, Appogg, dealt with 223 cases of domestic violence and 394 cases of child abuse. These figures were given in reply to a parliamentary question put by Labour MP Adrian Vassallo.

In reply to a further question put by Labour MP Justyne Caruana, the Justice and Home Affairs Minister, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, said that in 2007, police arraigned 49 persons in court on charges connected to 42 cases of child abuse. Only five of these cases were concluded. Two persons were imprisoned, one was given a suspended sentence and the other two were freed.

So far this year, only twelve persons have been arraigned in court on charges of child abuse.

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