Four unkempt Romanian nationals were yesterday remanded in custody after denying trying to sell fake gold in St Paul’s Bay on Sunday.

The women, who stood in the dock assisted by an interpreter, at first indicated they would admit to the charge of trying to sell fake items but then decided to plead not guilty when they realised they would be jailed.

The accused are Gioconda Dan, 39, Elisa Caldararu, 32, Selvena Constantin, 19, and Elvira Baicu, 32.

Opening a number of brown envelopes containing about 71 necklaces and bracelets all hallmarked as being real gold, Police Inspector Therese Sciberras told the court the accused had entered restaurants and bars trying to sell their wares.

On Sunday, the police received a phone call about the women and when officers arrived on the scene, somewhere along the promenade, two of them tried to run away but were quickly apprehended, she said. They were later found to be hiding fake gold items in hidden pockets in their skirts and in double linings in the same clothing.

Ms Sciberras said that when she questioned the accused, they told her many tall stories. As an example, the officer said she was told they came to Malta alone and had nowhere to live, they slept on the beach and had lost their return tickets when swimming. All this proved to be fabrications because three men turned up at the court house before the women’s arraignment, were in possession of ferry tickets and said they were accompanying the accused. Furthermore, it resulted the four women lived in a car, the officer said.

The prosecuting officer said she would object to bail being granted because the accused might abscond, especially if they were in possession of return tickets. She added this was her fourth summer in which she had to deal with similar cases. It turned out, Ms Sciberras explained to Magistrate Marseann Farrugia, that the accused in this case were related to the accused in the other similar incidents.

Lawyer Josette Sultana appeared for the accused.