Club operators fined for employing lap dancers

Four club operators were yesterday fined Lm500 each for employing foreigners as lap dancers without a work permit. Alfred Busietta, 57, of San Gwann, Hugo Chetcuti, 37, of Madliena, Duncan Fenech, 28, of Mosta, and Frankie Grima, 45, of Sliema, pleaded...

Four club operators were yesterday fined Lm500 each for employing foreigners as lap dancers without a work permit.

Alfred Busietta, 57, of San Gwann, Hugo Chetcuti, 37, of Madliena, Duncan Fenech, 28, of Mosta, and Frankie Grima, 45, of Sliema, pleaded guilty to employing the foreigners at clubs they owned or managed in St Julian's, Paceville and Qawra on and before June 13. The clubs were not named.

They were also charged with failing to inform the Employment and Training Corporation that they were employing the dancers.

Dr Joseph Giglio, for Chetcuti and Fenech, told Magistrate Antonio Mizzi that his clients were filing guilty pleas without prejudice to pending civil proceedings with which they were contesting the police commissioner's arbitrary decision to refuse to renew the dancers' work permits.

The dancers had originally been employed after work permits were obtained.

Dr Emmanuel Mallia, for Grima, and Dr Jason Azzopardi, for Busietta, explained that their clients had started up their business after obtaining the necessary permits and their guilty pleas was not to be seen as prejudicing any rights according to law.

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