A 60-year-old woman and her 25-year-old husband yesterday pleaded not guilty to running a brothel from their Gżira flat in Testaferrata Street.

Theresa Cutajar and Elmleti Saad were charged with running a brothel and living off the earnings of prostitution in August and the months before.

Prosecuting inspector Jason Sultana said they got wind that the apartment was being used as a brothel after a prostitute, who was arraigned last week, confessed to the police.

She released a statement and another two women also came forward, saying the apartment rented out by Mr Saad and Ms Cutajar was used as a brothel.

The police got hold of a search warrant and, when they raided the apartment, found a “sizable bag” of condoms, baby wipes, women’s lingerie and sexual paraphernalia, Mr Sultana told Magistrate Marseann Farrugia.

Standing quietly in the dock, the couple clasped hands tightly throughout the two-hour arraignment, with Ms Cutajar occasionally letting go to wipe tears from her eyes.

Ms Cutajar alone was also charged with loitering with intent to prostitute

Defence lawyer Jason Azzopardi contested the arraignment under arrest and then started interrogating Mr Sultana whether he was aware that a man had threatened Mr Saad last year.

This person wanted to get the couple out of their rented apartment at all costs and had even followed Mr Saad into the Msida police station and threatened him with a chain.

Mr Sultana said he knew that Mr Saad had been threatened but could not confirm what had happened because he was not present at the police station.

He also defended his decision to arraign the couple under arrest, saying it was a serious crime.

After deliberating, Magistrate Farrugia said the arrest was valid.

Mr Saad and Ms Cutajar were also charged with being the owners of the apartment, which was being used as a brothel.

Ms Cutajar, alone, was also charged with loitering with intent to prostitute.

Mr Sultana also objected to a request for bail, saying there were five witnesses who had to testify.

Magistrate Farrugia remanded the couple in preventive custody and recommended the prisons director to keep Ms Cutajar at the forensic unit at Mount Carmel Hospital.