The managing and marketing directors of Leisure Clothing Limited have been remanded in custody this afternoon after pleading not guilty to several charges of human trafficking for labour exploitation of at least nine employees. 

Bin Han, 46, from San Gwann and Jia Liu, 31, from Birzebbuga, were charged with nine instances of exploitation of Chinese and Vietnamese people working for their company based in Bulebel. 

Mr Han, who has Maltese nationality, is the company's managing director while Mr Liu is Chinese but has been living in Malta for four years. 

They were also charged with misappropriating the employees' wages, failing to pay the employees their wages, overtime and allowances and failing to comply with employment conditions. 

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras heard the prosecution object to a request for bail. Superintendent Dennis Theuma and Police Inspector Joseph Busuttil said the crimes with which they were accused were of a very serious nature. 

Moreover, when the police went to Mr Han's house in San Gwann for a routine search, they found that he already had his luggage prepared. Although he denied he was planning to leave the island, the police discovered that he had booked a flight to Rome and another flight from Rome to China.

In addition, Supt. Theuma said the prosecution was basing its case on "vulnerable witnesses" who were allegedly "trafficked to Malta for labour exploitation".

Defence lawyer Pio Valletta, however, contested the objections, saying the police had no qualms granting his client police bail while they were conducting their investigations. He also insisted that the prosecution's allegations were "unfounded". 

Dr Valletta said his clients had already "passed through a lot" when they faced "prosecution" in the media. 

Magistrate Galea Sciberras denied the request for bail, given the nature of the case and given the danger that they would interfere with the witnesses. She also upheld a request to have all their assets frozen and ordered the compilation of an inventory of these assets. 

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