Six massage parlour workers were this morning arraigned in court after they were arrested yesterday for their involvement in the running of a brothel.

The women, all Ukrainians, were escorted to court after police investigations led to the discovery that three massage parlours -  in San Ġwann, and two in Sta Venera, were allegedly being used for prostitution or other immoral purposes.

Assisted by two interpreters, Olena Zhuk, 36, and Yana Barbutsa, 36, two of the masseuses, pleaded not guilty and requested bail which, however, was objected to by the prosecution.

The court was informed that there were still several civilian witnesses, reportedly clients who had requested the services of the women, who still had to testify.

The court, presided by magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, denied the accused bail on account that they had not been long in Malta and did not offer sufficient reassurance that they would not abscond.

Viktoriya Mykhay, 38, Svitlana Pabat, 38, Natalia Starykova, 37, and Inna Karpusha, 39, admitted to the charges and were declared guilty upon their own admission.

The court condemned each of them to a jail term of one year suspended for two years. It invited the Principal Immigration Officer to see whether they should be repatriated.

Inspector John Spiteri prosecuted.Lawyer Alessandro Lia was defence counsel to Ms Barbutsa.

Lawyer Josette Sultana was legal aid to the other five women.