A group of ten persons were arraigned in court on Saturday at noon charged of involvement in prostitution, the police said in a statement.
The group consists of seven women who were accused of immoral behaviour in public and three men accused of being involved in prostitution activities.
The women were Krisztina Dobos, 22, Zuzsa Veres, 23, Andrea Balogh, 32, Maria Petro, 33, Karolina Varga, 30 all of Hungarian nationality, Joanna Dzienia, 20, Polish nationality and Daniela Cenusa, 22, Romanian.
They were accused that on the 3rd July 2008 and in the preceding weeks they have been engaged in immoral behaviour in public places in the Maltese islands. They pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them and were granted bail conditioned for a period of three months and were fined €25.
The other three persons arraigned were John Saliba, 45 resident in Naxxar; Samuel Ritchie, 48, Kappara resident and Jonathan Gilson, 27, Paola resident.
John Saliba and Samuel Ritchie alone were accused that on the 3rd July 2008 and in the preceding weeks they were involved in human trafficking for prostitution.
They together with Jonathan Gilson, were also accused of living off prostitution of foreign women, organising a brothel and using a property as a brothel and for immoral activities.
Mr Saliba and Mr Gilson were accused of using a property in Triq Ghar il-Lembi in Sliema and in other properties around the Maltese Islands as a brothel.
Mr Ritchie was accused that also on the 3rd July 2008 and in the preceding weeks he held a person against her will and breaking the conditions of previous sentences.
The men pleaded not guilty to the accusations. They were granted bail against a deposit of €5,000 and a personal guarantee of €5,000 amongst other conditions. They are also to report at their respective local police stations and to be inside their homes between 20:00CET and 10:00CET of the following day.
Prosecution was led by Inspector Louise Calleja.
Magistrate Dr. G. Grixti presided the Court.
