Pimps, prostitutes in court over drugs

Two pimps and their prostitutes were yesterday charged with drug possession following an investigation into allegations that a client was threatened after receiving services from one of the women.

The case came to light after a customer was threatened by the pimps with a pistol. Terrified, he filed a report, leading the police to raid the apartment on Tuesday where the drugs were found, sources close to the case said.

During separate arraignments, couple Christian Bugeja, 37, from Birkirkara and Donna Marie Stone, 19, from Cospicua, pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin, living off the earnings of prostitution and relapsing while Ms Stone denied loitering with intent to prostitute herself.

The second couple, Justin Farrugia, 20 and his girlfriend and prostitute Ellie Briffa, 18, both from Gżira, also denied living off the earnings of prostitution, while Mr Briffa alone denied trafficking heroin and relapsing.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera granted Ms Stone and Mr Bugeja bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000 and ordered them not to go anywhere near Gżira or Marsa.

The magistrate granted Mr Farrugia bail against a personal guarantee of €1,500 and a deposit of €500 while Ms Briffa was placed on probation for three years.