Four men and two women were today charged with usury of amounts running to over €450,000.
Anthony Borg, 38, of Marsascala known as Il-Bona; Mario Gauci, 40, of Mqabba known as Wang Wang; Carmel Mangion, 55, of San Gwann; Maurizio Zahra, 29, of Valletta; Doreen Magri, 37 of Valletta; and Mary Muscat, 53, of Qawra pleaded not guilty to usury in June and the previous years.
Mr Borg, Mr Zahra and Mr Gauci were also charged with relapsing.
All were granted bail against a €2,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €3,000 each.