Woman cleared of prostitution, robbery charges

A woman from St. Paul's Bay has been cleared of charges relating to prostitution and aggravated theft after her alleged victim was observed to be inconsistent in his claims.

A man had filed a police report at Qawra police station on February 8th 2016, claiming to have been robbed whilst visiting a woman at her apartment.

He had told the court that he had been friends with the woman, who would occasionally invite him over for coffee. Sitting on the sofa during one such visit in January 2016, he claimed that she had gone to her bedroom and turned off the lights.

A black man had appeared out of nowhere and demanded his money and choker, he said, explaining that he had complied and left the house, but was followed by a third person and so opted not to go to the police station that night. He had spotted the accused and the alleged thief a fortnight later and had filed a police report shortly afterwards.

€300 had been stolen from his wallet, he had told police. A police sergeant had testified that when he had spoken to the man after he filed his report, the investigation had zeroed in on the woman – whose name the man could not recall, although he had her number. The court was told that the man had initially indicated to the police that he went to the woman's apartment for sexual services, but later said he was merely visiting.

The accused had released a statement denying all knowledge of the allegations.

The court held that the man’s testimony had not been credible and that his account was inconsistent.

He had told the police that the he had no dealings with the woman but then said that she had called him up and asked him over. He had in fact, later testified to knowing her. It also did not believe that a person who was being followed would wait days before filing a police report. When he did file the report, he did not mention that anyone was tailing him. Likewise, he initially claimed not to know the place where the alleged crime took place, but later guided the police to the spot, the court observed.

The evidence also did not point to the woman having loitered for the purposes of prostitution or that she had “other immoral intentions,” said the magistrate, as she cleared the woman of all charges.

Lawyer Edward Gatt was legal counsel to the defendant.