A Chinese masseuse yesterday admitted to living off the earnings of prostitution when she split the money earned from sexual services given to clients by one of her employees.
Dongmei Muscat, 48, from St Paul’s Bay, tried to earn some extra money because she had to support her son, who was in his 20s and was studying, her lawyer Kenneth Grima said.
Ms Muscat operates the Traditional Chinese Therapy Massage Centre in Qawra and was charged following an inspection.
In the arraignment, she admitted to having lived off the earnings of prostitution and operating a brothel over the past few months.
Dr Grima said Ms Muscat was a professional masseuse who, along with another woman, would offer extras, adding that if she had not taken earnings then she would not have committed a crime.
Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia exhibited in court a number of sex toys found at the parlour, which included condoms.
In submissions on punishment, Dr Grima asked the court not to hand down a suspended jail term because this would most likely interfere with the process of getting her permit to operate renewed.
At one point, during a light-hearted moment, lawyer Joe Brincat told Magistrate Francesco Depasquale to make it a happy ending, which elicited a light chuckle from lawyers and police officers.
Magistrate Depasquale, with half a smile, told him to keep quiet.
Ms Muscat was conditionally discharged for three years, fined €400 and warned not to commit the crime again.