A Romanian lap dancer and the owner of the Paceville club where she worked have been charged over a topless performance she allegedly gave to a client.
Luciana Loredana Secan, 21, from Romania, was accused of offending public morality by exposing herself indecently in the Déjà Vu Bar.
Her client, Latvian Victor Zagarnejs, said the woman approached him “sweetly” and asked to dance for him. He accepted and was led to a separate room where, he said, Ms Secan danced topless for a few minutes.
Mr Zagarnejs said he did not pay for the dance but was under the impression that he would have to fork out around €100 for the performance.
The police entered the place at around 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, Superintendent Stephen Gatt told the court. It was not a bar, the officer said, pointing out that it was full of “skimpily dressed” foreign dancers.
When he moved in, he noticed a bartender head towards a set of cubicles behind the bar, divided by sheer curtains. He followed him and found a topless Ms Secani in mid-performance and she covered herself up immediately.
Mr Zagarnejs was held for questioning but Ms Secan and 30-year-old Marco Bonnici of St Julians, the owner of the Déjà Vu, were arrested.
The police filed a series of indecency charges against Ms Secan and Mr Bonnici but they also accused the owner of allowing his property to be used for prostitution and of employing an unlicensed person without work permits.
The duo’s defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi said the dancer was being accused on the superintendent’s definition of morality and decency. In fact, he argued, the proceedings were a breach of her right to a fair trial since what she was being accused of did not constitute a crime under the criminal code.
Also in contention between the defence and prosecution was whether Ms Secan should be granted bail.
Inspector Trevor Micallef argued that she might flee the country and pointed out that the woman lived in the bar owner’s building, which meant they could influence each other’s testimony.
However, Dr Azzopardi said Ms Secan would live in a separate residence in Msida and she was granted bail on a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a number of conditions.
Mr Bonnici was also granted bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €1,000.
Magistrate Edwina Grima presided the case.
Dr Emmanuel Mallia also appeared for the accused.