Man charged with human trafficking 'flees country'

The court yesterday ordered the arrest of a man who jumped bail and has allegedly left Malta.

Sitting in the Court of Criminal Appeal, Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano upheld a request fled by deputy Attorney General Mark Said to revoke Victor Philip Bajada's bail.

Dr Said said the police were informed that the accused had left the island illegally.

Last May, 28-year-old Mr Bajada and his father Emanuel Bajada, 52, were accused of trafficking in humans for prostitution purposes.

They were also charged with living off the earnings of prostitution, organising a brothel and allowing, as administrators, Adam's Guesthouse in Ross Street, St Julians and Pace's Guesthouse in St Agatha Street, Sliema to be used for prostitution.

The two were arraigned after four Russian women and another from Kazakhstan pleaded guilty to knowingly aiding and abetting the Bajadas in the alleged running of the brothel.

In addition to ordering the man's arrest, the court yesterday also decreed that the personal guarantee of Lm20,000 should pass in favour of the government.

Inspectors Raymond Abdilla and Louise Calleja are prosecuting.