Landlord saw women at window, gesturing to welcome men inside brothel

The landlord of an apartment block that was allegedly used as a brothel and as a safe haven for prostitutes in Ta’ Xbiex, told the court that he had seen several women seated at the window, gesturing to men as if to welcome them inside.

Michael Sciberras – the husband of the landlord of an apartment block in Enrico Mizzi street, Ta’ Xbiex - was summoned to court this morning to testify in the compilation of evidence against 60-year-old Theresa Cutajar and her 25-year-old husband Elmleti Mohamed Saad.

The couple are pleading not guilty to running a brothel in Ta’ Xbiex, of living off the earnings of prostitution, and of loitering. The two have been denied bail, and are currently being remanded in custody.

The apartment block is in Enrico Mizzi Street in Ta’ Xbiex, just a stone’s throw away from the notorious Testaferrata Street.

Taking the witness stand, Sciberras also told the court that a couple of weeks before, he had also heard the rumour that a man who had suffered a fatal heart attack while he was with a “foreign woman inside the apartment was dragged down the stairs.”

Sciberras also told the court that prior to the death of the man, he had also heard that the apartment block was being used to host prostitutes, and that its tenants – Cutajar and her husband – had turned it into a brothel.

“Coupled with the rumours about Theresa [Cutajar] turning the place into a brothel, the news of the man’s death and the subsequent events alarmed me. Consequently, I went to the police station and told them that the apartments were being used as a brothel,” he said.

Asked whether he had ever seen the accused, Sciberras explained that he had often seen Cutajar look out of the window. Moreover, he said, he had also seen several women sitting behind the windows, as if to invite men inside.

“The apartments have two windows, and behind them I used to see several women. These used to look down, and whenever I looked them in the eye they made a gesture, as if to welcome me inside,” he said.

Asked whether he had seen the same women, Sciberras insisted that from 2006 onwards, he has seen several women waiting behind the windows.

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Joseph Arrigo, Sciberras explained that the women behind the windows never talked to him, but whenever he slowed down to take a look at the apartment, they made a gesture as if to invite him in.

On her part, Jeannette Sciberras, who told the court that she is the owner of the apartment block, exhibited receipts, proving to the court that  Cutajar was living in and using her property against a €400 ground rent.

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana prosecuted while Lawyer Joseph Arrigo was defence counsel. Magistrate Doreen Clarke presided.

The case has been adjourned until 8 October.