Two Ukrainian women yesterday told a court they had no clue that advertising sexual services on an escort site was illegal as it was perfectly legal in many other European countries.

As they admitted to running a brothel from a flat in Gżira, Olena Antoniades, 27, and Anhelika Kisyelova, 39, were sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.

They pleaded guilty to offering themselves for prostitution on and before Tuesday.

The court heard how the police carried out a surprise inspection on a flat in Fleet Street where they found several items related to prostitution, including a large number of condoms.

The court heard the two woman explain they did not know that advertising themselves for prostitution was a crime in Malta. They also said they had been misled by a friend who had shown them how to advertise their services on the site.

The prosecution said it was not insisting on an effective jail term since the women were leaving the island in the coming days.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana prosecuted while lawyer Joseph Ellis appeared for the women.