A 33-year-old Italian woman was charged with filing a false police report when she claimed that two men stole her money, mobile and keys from a hotel room.

The two Italian men, who live in Malta, denied the claims and said they had paid the woman for sex and never took anything that belonged to her.

Police Inspector Carol Fabri said that the woman claimed to be called Roberto Castelli - a man's name. But police had doubts as to the authenticity of her identity given that she initially gave another name - Fernanda Rodrigez  - who turned out to be her cousin.

The woman  claimed the items were stolen from a room at the Tropicana Hotel in St Julians by two men with who she spent time in her room. She indicated the two men to police and they were arrested last night.

But during investigations police found the woman's wallet in the bedside table of the room. Her mobile was found in her luggage in the room next door - the room  where she was actually staying.

Ms Castelli, 33 from Sicily, said she had come to Malta on holiday and was staying at the Tropicana Hotel. She contested the charges and insisted "I am innocent" and that the two men stole €110 from her wallet.

The court heard the two men testify. They said that they met Ms Castelli in Paceville and went with her to a hotel last night.

One of them paid her €50 to have sex. Both men went with her in the room and after they "did what they had to do" they left the room without taking anything that belonged to her, they said.

Later that evening they were stopped by police after Ms Castelli said they had stolen her belongings.

Ms Castelli was denied bail and the case will continue on February 11.