A prostitute said she was kept as a “sex slave”, having to ask permission to use the toilet in a brothel owned by a 60-year-old woman and her 25-year-old Libyan husband.
Mary Louise Magro, from Gżira, was testifying in a case against Theresa Cutajar and Elmleti Saad who are denying running a brothel and living off the earnings of prostitution.
As soon as a client came in she would start demanding money
Ms Magro had been homeless but found a place to live at the brothel in Enrico Mizzi Street, Gżira. At first, she said, the experience was good but it quickly turned sour with Ms Cutajar demanding €20 a day for rent.
She did not have a fixed rate for her sexual services but would take whatever the clients offered, though she had to give €5 to Ms Cutajar for every man she slept with.
“I was practically a sex slave,” Ms Magro said, adding she was almost in a position where she was forced to work to keep up with the couple’s demands for money.
Mr Saad would behave in a very intimidating manner and threaten to beat her up. The witness said she had to ask permission to use the toilet or have a shower.
Another prostitute, Spiridiona Caruana, who was last week charged with prostitution and running a brothel and conditionally discharged, said she knew Ms Cutajar operated a brothel and had met her while out walking.
She needed money and decided to start prostituting herself from Ms Cutajar’s building. She did not move in but went there for a few hours every day.
Ms Caruana said she was selective when it came to clients and black men were never allowed in.
A third woman, Lucienne Mallia, complained that Ms Cutajar and her husband demanded a daily rent of €20, a sum she found difficult to afford.
“As soon as a client would come in, she would start ringing the bell and demanding money.”
If she needed condoms, Ms Cutajar would charge her an extra €5. On one occasion, Ms Mallia said Ms Cutajar pulled her dress up, exposing her in front of the Paul and Rocco petrol station.
Police Inspector Jason Sultana prosecuted.
Lawyer Joseph Arrigo was defence counsel.
The case continues.