A 52-year-old Chinese man who lives in Malta was today accused of human trafficking and running three illegal brothels disguised as massage parlours.

De Quan Feng, 52, from Guangdong, China, but lives in Saint Paul’s Bay, was also accused of living off the earnings of prostitution.

The court, presided by Magistrate Doreen Clarke, heard how Mr Feng, who has lived in Malta for the past 17 years and holds a Maltese passport, was running brothels in Harruba Street, Santa Venera, Oratory Street in Paola and Aristarku Street in Rabat. The brothels were disguised as Chinese Massage parlours.  

Three Chinese women who work at the brothels were called up as witnesses, as was a Maltese client who was caught in the act during a police raid. The court ordered a ban on all the names except for that of the accused.

The arraignment is still in process as one of the women broke down in court and asked to give testimony by video conference, and not in front of her former “employer.” 

Inspectors Sylvana Briffa and Joseph Busuttil are prosecuting.