Massage parlour worker denies sexual services were part of her job, court hears
The woman said she paid her employer €300 in taxes "because it was a registered business"
A Chinese woman who worked at a Birkirkara massage parlour told a court how she came to Malta to work six years ago and eventually began offering sexual services to regular clients of her own free will.
In an emotional testimony, the woman shared how she offered extra sexual services to regular clients who asked for them, and they paid her in tips, in cash, as much as they wanted.
She insisted that this was not part of her job as a masseuse.
As part of her job as a masseuse, she was paid about €750 a month - from which she had to pay her employer €300 in taxes “because it was a registered business”.
The woman was testifying via video conference, with the help of an interpreter, in the compilation of evidence against a 56-year-old Chinese national, Shen Man, who is accused of human trafficking, running a brothel, and living off the earnings of prostitution.
Man is pleading not guilty.
Victim describes the accused as 'a friend'
Before she started giving evidence, Magistrate Lara Lanfranco asked her if she was comfortable speaking through a male interpreter, and she confirmed it was okay.
The woman said she came to Malta about six years ago and, during that time, always worked in a massage parlour in Birkirkara. She stopped working for about two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time she travelled to China.
She said that she knew Shen Man, her employer, before coming to Malta.
“I was looking after my parents. I had no work, and I was single,” she said, adding that a friend told her about Man.
“I contacted Shen Man in China on WeChat to ask her about the job, and asked her about Malta, as I had never been here before. I decided to try it out, to learn the massage skills, and to come to Malta,” she said.
Man helped her get her resident work permit and paperwork. Before she came to Malta, they discussed working hours and conditions. These included that she would live in Msida for free for some time. According to the agreement, she would start work at 9am or 9.30am until 8pm at the latest, from Monday to Sunday, and earn about €700–€750 a month.
She did not open a bank account and was always paid in cash. She was not forced to work seven days a week and could take time off when she wanted.
Initially, she lived in the Msida apartment, but since it was too far from the shop and cold in the winter, she decided to live in the shop.
She described Man as her friend, and they often went out together as friends.
Victim paid €300 in taxes to employer
“Before I came here, she just told me to do massages and nothing else … it was my decision when I came here that, besides massage, I provide other services,” she said.
When asked to elaborate, she became visibly uncomfortable and emotional.
She cupped her hands, occasionally touching her face, fiddled with her sleeves, and shifted in her chair, occasionally bursting into tears.
“Sometimes I make love… sexual services… sometimes I use my hand to help people. Mostly a massage… only sometimes,” she said.
The payment for these sexual services came as tips directly from clients. They paid her as much as they wanted, and she kept the tips for herself. She used protection and contraceptives, which she bought herself.
She said that regular clients who were satisfied with her massages asked for these additional services. She only accepted requests from regular clients who were gentle.
There were many men who walked in, asking for sexual services, but she turned them away.
“Sometimes I was angry with the questions”, she said, insisting that it was her decision who to give sexual services to.
Payments for massages were made in cash or via Revolut, while the extra services were paid in tips directly to her. She said she paid Man about €300 a month in tax.
“I don’t know what exactly. I only know that because it’s a registered business, some tax must be paid,” she said, elaborating that this money was not deducted from her salary.
She paid her the tax after she was given the salary.
People walking into the shop walked into a corridor leading to two private rooms. There were no cameras in the massage rooms, but there were two cameras in the corridor.
She said that Man had access to the footage.
The prosecution was led by lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden and Charmaine Abdilla from the Office of the Attorney General, alongside Inspectors John Spiteri, Dorianne Tabone, and Oscar Baldacchino. Lawyer Francois Dalli represented the accused.
Lawyer Lara Dimitrijevic appeared for the victim on behalf of the Women’s Rights Foundation.