A Romanian construction worker who was recently convicted of forcing two women into prostitution is also wanted by the Romanian authorities to start serving a three-year jail term over an armed robbery in his home country.

Alexandru Onofrei, 30, was slapped with a European Arrest Warrant in September last year after breaching the conditions of a suspended jail term imposed by a Romanian court. The man, who should have reported to a police station in his home country, had been convicted of holding persons against their will during a hold-up.

But at the time, Mr Onofrei was undergoing separate court proceedings in Malta, this time over allegations involving forced prostitution in September 2014.

Last month, a court sentenced him to two years in jail but he filed an appeal which has not yet been heard.

This morning he was arraigned before Magistrate Charmaine Galea in connection with the extradition request.

Police inspector Mario Cuschieri told the court that the accused was arrested yesterday afternoon.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono argued that his client’s arrest did not make sense in view of the pending appeal before a Maltese court. He noted that his client had filed an application to be able to report at a Maltese police station to satisfy the condition imposed by the Romanian court. His request was, however, rejected.

Mr Onofrei, was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000. He was ordered to stay indoors between midnight and 6am and to report daily at the Qormi police station.

Proceedings regarding his extradition request are due to be heard by another court later this month.