'Robbed by phoney prostitute'

A woman allegedly posed as a prostitute only to run off with her client's trousers and his money. She was yesterday remanded in custody with her boyfriend.

The woman, 27-year-old Lora Xerri, allegedly enticed Solomon Ghebremedhin into her St Paul's Bay apartment by pretending to be a prostitute.

When Mr Ghebremedhin took his clothes off, she allegedly ran away with his trousers with €200 in the pocket - but he gave chase and she called her boyfriend, who was nearby, for help.

The boyfriend, Jean Paul Mamo, 33, allegedly held the man at knife point to try and stop him from running after her, police sources said.

In yesterday's arraignment, Mr Mamo and Ms Xerri pleaded not guilty to stealing €200 from Mr Ghebremedhin while Mr Mamo was also charged with slightly injuring him and carrying a knife during a crime.

Legal aid lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores told the court that the amount of money taken was relatively small and that it was not a knife that was used but a nail clipper.

Police Inspector Paul Bond said that since the victim and two other witnesses were still to testify, he would oppose bail because there was a fear that evidence might be tampered with.

Magistrate Edwina Grima remanded the couple in custody.