Client 'robbed' while visiting prostitute

A soon-to-be-married man who sought the services of a prostitute ended up in a legal wrangle after he was robbed of Lm295 and his mobile phone.

The man, whose name cannot be published by court order, yesterday testified in the case against Silvio Buttigieg, 30, of Cospicua, Pauline Pisani, 18, and Stephen Mifsud, 31, both living at Ta' Xbiex.

Inspector Silvio Valletta told the court the police received a report that a man had been robbed of Lm295 and his mobile phone.

Police investigations showed that the man went to visit a prostitute at about 11 p.m. on March 10 and paid her Lm5. At one point the woman said she wanted to use the bathroom. Realising she had taken his jeans, the man followed her out of the room and saw her handing the jeans over to a short man.

A "tug of war" for the jeans then took place and the man noticed that the man, the woman's partner, was clutching the wallet and had taken the money that was in it - Lm295.

A tall man wearing long hair then appeared on the scene and when the alleged victim pleaded that it was his salary they were taking he was given Lm10 back and asked to leave quietly.

As the man was walking out he realised his mobile phone was missing and returned to retrieve it, only to be told that he had to wait because one of the men wanted to make a phone call. He was then told he was not going to get it back.

The man said he was threatened and hit with an iron bar and when he insisted that his phone should be returned he was given just the sim card.

The witness said the police used the description given to them by the man to round up Buttigieg, Pisani and Mifsud, whom the man identified.

The inspector said items related to drug abuse were found in one of the flats used by the accused and they were facing separate charges on the matter. He said the police had received reports of two other thefts carried out in a similar way by the same three accused.

The officer said Pisani admitted they had been carrying out such thefts for the past four months but disagreed on the amount of money that was stolen from their latest victim.

Mifsud, her partner, also said that such thefts were taking place but did not admit that Lm295 had been stolen. He said the mobile phone had been sold and the money used to buy drugs.

Buttigieg released a statement admitting he was inside the flat at the time but denied taking part in the theft.

The victim was called to the witness stand and recounted his bitter experience. He again identified the accused.

A police sergeant testified that the victim filed a report at the Sliema police station, initially saying he had been held up. He later told the police he was embarrassed to admit he had seen a prostitute and that he had been robbed while preparing for the act.

The sergeant said the three accused had failed to open the door for the police and the mobile squad had to be called to force the door open. An iron bar similar to the one described by the victim was noticed on a bed and was lifted by scene of crime officers.

The court also heard that Mifsud and Pisani have a baby on whom the courts have issued a care order.

Following heated arguments by the prosecution and the defence, Magistrate Miriam Hayman said that unless the accused showed they were prepared to undergo a residential drug rehabilitation programme there was no way the court would consider granting them bail at this stage.

Inspectors Silvio Valletta and Jeffrey Cilia prosecuted.

Dr Malcom Mifsud and Dr Franco Debono appeared for the accused.