Owners of properties rented to a Chinese man who is charged with running them as brothels yesterday told a court they were not aware the premises were being used for this purpose.

The landlords testified against De Quan Feng, 52, from Guangdong, residing in St Paul’s Bay, who is pleading not guilty to operating three brothels and living off the earnings of prostitution.

The brothels were advertised as massage parlours, according to the prosecution.

Taking the witness stand, Crocifissa Pisani, from Rabat, said she had rented an apartment in her hometown to the accused on the agreement that he would be living there.

The contract was for one year and a man named Raymond, who she thought was also Chinese, would pay once a month.

Another landlord, Alex Pace, said he had known the accused for the past 14 years and he had been renting a garage to him in Santa Venera for eight years.

The garage had first been a cake shop, then a Chinese take-away and then became a Chinese massage parlour.

Asked if he knew it was now called Golden Fingers, he said he did not.

Lawyer Anthony Calleja, representing 91-year-old Louis Aquilina, said his client had rented out a property to the accused in Paola.

Mr Aquilina was too ill to go to court.

Police Inspectors Sylvana Briffa and Joseph Busuttil prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Brincat appeared for Mr Feng.

The case continues.