A Chinese accountant who was refused entry on her arrival at Malta International Airport ended up in court for trying to bribe a policewoman by putting €1,500 in cash in her pocket.

It resulted in court yesterday that Ren Xiuju, 30, was stopped for “immigration matters” when she flew in on Tuesday afternoon. She was informed she could not enter the country and told she had to take the next flight out but she refused and the police were called in.

At one point, she asked to go to the bathroom and a policewoman accompanied her. While in the bathroom, the Chinese woman attempted to bribe the officer to let her go by trying to place a wad of banknotes in her pocket.

The matter was promptly reported and the woman was arrested. A sum of €1,500 in cash was seized.

Ms Ren appeared before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera and pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted bribery.

She was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for four years and a deportation order was issued against here. The court also ordered confiscation of the cash.

Police Inspector Silvio Magro prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Mizzi appeared for the woman as legal aid.