The managing director and a senior manager of Chinese company Leisure Clothing were yesterday charged with human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

The development comes three days after workers told another court how they had slaved away for 14 hours a day, seven days a week for long periods and for a pittance.

Company MD Bin Han, 46, from San Ġwann, and Jia Liu, 31, from Birżebbuġa, were charged with nine counts related to the exploitation of nine Chinese and Vietnamese people working at the clothing factory in Bulebel.

Mr Han has Maltese nationality and Mr Liu is Chinese and has been living in Malta for four years. They were also accused of misappropriating the employees’ wages, failing to pay their salaries, overtime and allowances, as well as failing to comply with employment conditions.

Three ex-employees told the court last week they worked 14-hour days for entire weeks and only received €600 for eight months of hard work.

The Department for Industrial and Employment Relations told the court the firm issued monthly payslips but no wages, as the cash was stored “for safekeeping”.

The company would only release amounts if the employees filled out specific forms requesting a withdrawal. These three workers are between them claiming they are owed about €50,000 in wages and overtime.

Yesterday, the two company heads were charged with trafficking nine people and exploiting them for labour purposes, including the three whose cases have now been dropped and incorporated into the one that started yesterday.

The prosecution objected to the request for bail. Superintendent Dennis Theuma and Police Inspector Joseph Busuttil said the alleged crimes were “very serious”.

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

In addition, Supt. Theuma said the prosecution was basing its case on “vulnerable witnesses” and was concerned that the accused might influence them.

Defence lawyer Pio Valletta said the prosecution’s allegations were unfounded, pointing out that the police had had no problem granting his clients police bail while they were conducting their investigation.

His clients had already “passed through a lot” when they faced “prosecution” in the media.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras denied the request for bail, given the nature of the case and the danger that the accused might interfere with the witnesses.

She also upheld a request to have all their assets frozen and ordered that an inventory be compiled of these assets.