Mother charged over daughter's prostitution

A mother and daughter were yesterday charged with loitering and offending public morals on and before August 1 in Marsa.

The 41-year-old mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her 16-year-old daughter, was also charged with offering her daughter for prostitution.

Her daughter, who is currently living with her grandmother, was also charged with breaching the conditions of a previous release.

After hearing guilty pleas from the girl, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera jailed her for seven months suspended for four years.

She told the youngster that she was playing with fire and should not be here but in school.

Calling her grandmother into the court room, the magistrate told the girl that whether she stayed in prison or not rested entirely on her shoulders. Turning to the grandmother, she said her granddaughter needed her help.

After pleading not guilty to the charges, the mother was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000 and ordered not to approach or speak to her daughter. Police Inspector Raymond Aquilina prosecuted. Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud appeared for the two.