Pleads guilty to employing 10 persons illegally

A Romanian who is wanted in his home country to face charges of paedophilia and trafficking in women for prostitution, yesterday pleaded guilty to illegally employing 10 Romanians.

Marius Vamanu, 31, also admitted to not registering for VAT when conducting business in Malta and was fined €1,147.

Following a request by the prosecution, Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani sentenced Mr Vamanu within minutes of his registering a guilty plea because of the pending extradition order.

He is wanted by Romanian authorities for allegedly forcing women, some of them minors, into prostitution after they were sent to the Netherlands having been promised that they would work as dancers.

The European arrest warrant was issued by Romania's Botosani court for alleged offences committed between 2002 and 2003.

Mr Vamanu had given his consent to his extradition but insisted he was not guilty of the charges during a sitting to decide on the extradition last month. He will be extradited next week.

Police Inspectors Raymond Aquilina and lawyer Mario Cuschieri prosecuted.

Lawyers Ian Farrugia and Aron Mifsud Bonnici appeared for Mr Vamanu.