Raymond Micallef, 53, and his brother Vincent, 37, both of Sliema were today cleared by a court of having run a brothel six years ago in Huggins Darlings, a gentleman's club in Paceville.

In handing down judgement, Magistrate Carol Peralta repeatedly apologised for the delays in the court proceedings.

He noted that the prosecution only presented five witnesses and yet the accused spent six years waiting for justice. At the time, he said, this case had been given prominence int he newspapers, but there was no evidence that the establishment had been used as a brothel or as a place for immoral acts.

Six years ago the police had arrested and arraigned a number of East European women who were found working in various gentlemen's clubs. The owners of eight establishments in Paceville and Qawra, including the Micallefs, were then accused of running brothels.

The women were acquitted soon after because there was no evidence that a lap dance amounted to prostitution or an immoral act.

Dr Franco Debono was defence counsel for the two men.