Tarxien man accused of running a brothel

A 53-year-old Maltese man yesterday became the fifth person arrested and charged in connection with a massage parlour the police believe was being used as a brothel.

The man from Tarxien, who cannot be named by court order, pleaded not guilty to running Honey Girl in Balzan as a brothel, living off the earnings of prostitution and using the premises in breach of licence conditions.

His arraignment comes after four women, Lin Han, 32, Liu Renhua, 42, Yu Yali, 43 and Qin Weihong, 42, all from Attard, were arraigned on similar charges.

Ms Han was also charged with living off the earnings of prostitution. During the sitting yesterday, Police Inspector Louise Calleja said the police had been carrying out sur-veillance on the shop for a while and had been searching for the accused.

Lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef said their client had not been to the shop for some three days after suffering medical problems.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella granted him bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000.