Former teacher sentenced after abuse case

A former teacher has been sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment after being found guilty of defiling two 14-year-old boys. Another  two victims renounced criminal action against their aggressor. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard how Mario Bugeja, 45 from Qala, had been formerly abused as a 14-year-old boy by another ex-teacher, Martin Cefai. The two met 15 years later and started abusing boys together. The boys were introduced to the man by his former abuser after they met on an internet chatting site. The court heard about the way the boys would be tied to a bed and hit with a whip. The younger of the two teachers would watch and participate in sexual acts with the boys, following the beating. The boys were also taken to secluded spots and abused by the men in their cars. A large number of indecent photos of children including videos were also found on the hard drive of the man’s computer. Magistrate Demicoli jailed Mr Bugeja for five years after considering that the children were in a vulnerable state when they were abused by the man and merited a punishment close to the maximum. Both men are appealing their jail terms.