in the newspaper when an amendment to the Criminal Code comes into force later this year.

The disclosure was made in Magistrates Court yesterday by lawyer Mr. Mark Pettingill.

He had been appealing to the Press to consider the "irreparable damage'' that would be done to the reputation of his client, charged with indecently assaulting a woman.

Ernesto A. Silva, 56, of Warwick pleaded not guilty to the offence, said to have occurred on March 1 in Pembroke.

Mr. Pettingill reminded the court that people were innocent until proven guilty.

He said that when the recently-passed Criminal Code (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill comes into effect, the media will be barred from printing or reporting the name of any alleged sex offender -- as well as the person's victim.

As the law stands now, the media is only barred from printing the names of alleged rapists, rape victims and child victims of sexual assaults.

Mr. Pettingill said the alleged offence was on the "lower end of the scale of indecent assault cases'', possibly involving a claim of sexual harassment by the complainant Teresa Oliveira.

He added there was "a real possibility'' the charge would not be proceeded with.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis set the case down for trial on September 1 at 9.30 a.m.

It is understood the new laws, passed by Parliament in February, will come into effect around June 1 after some administrative aspects are ironed out.