A mother and daughter this morning pleaded not guilty to having stolen €400 from a Russian tourist at the Crown Hotel in St Paul's Bay on Monday.

Emanuela and Kirsten Camilleri, aged 39 and 24 respectively, allegedly took the money from his bedside table.

The two were employed in housekeeping and had allegedly cleaned the room when the money was stolen.

The Russian man told the court that at about 2.30 p.m. he went to his room to pick up his passport so that his tour guide could book an excursion to Sicily. He found the two accused in the room and as he entered the elder one left.

He saw Kirsten Camilleri walking out of the bathroom holding towels.

He went straight to the bedside table and realised that the money was gone.

In cross examination, the man said that he did not see anyone from maintenance changing light bulbs in his room or the corridor.

The two women were granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000.