Lap dancer cleared of running brothel

A lap dancer who was found scantily dressed in a Paceville club was acquitted of running a brothel, offending public morals and being indecently dressed on the night in question.

Sabrina Bonnett, 33, admitted to the police, following a raid on AO Platinum club, she was a pole and lap dancer, insisting, however, she never physically touched a client. Police Inspector Louise Calleja told Magistrate Audrey Demicoli that in a raid on November 18, 2006 officers had seen a number of girls dancing while scantily clad and found Ms Bonnett in the dressing room wearing a bikini top, panties and a mini skirt.

Magistrate Demicoli said there was no evidence to prove the club had been used as a brothel or for immoral reasons. Furthermore, none of the six policemen involved in the raid had identified Ms Bonnett as being a lap dancer at the time.

Although she was found wearing a bikini top, panties and a mini skirt this did not constitute indecent attire as it was similar to what one saw on the beach in summer or on TV, the court said.

Lawyers Shazoo Ghaznavi and Robert Galea were defence counsel.