A woman was remanded in custody today after she allegedly pretended to be a prostitute and ran off with a 'client's' trousers and some €200 in cash. The 'client' chased her but was stopped by the woman's boyfriend allegedly wielding a knife.

Laura Scerri, 27 and Jean-Paul Mamo, 32, both of St Paul's Bay, pleaded not guilty today to stealing the €200 in the incident last Wednesday evening at St Paul's Bay. Mr Mamo also pleaded not guilty to having used a knife during the commission of a crime and slightly injuring the victim.

The victim, Solomon Ghebremedhin, allegedly solicited sex from the woman, but when he got into her room, she ran off with his trousers, which contained €200. As he chased her, she shouted for her boyfriend, who then tried to hold the man at knife point, sources said

During submissions on bail, the couple's legal aid lawyer told the court that what had been used was not a knife but a nail clipper and the amount allegedly stolen was relatively small.

Magistrate Edwina Grima decided to remand the couple in custody as the victim and two other witnesses still had to testify.