On Saturday two police superintendents called on Paul Cauchi at his office at Pavi – Saturday being one of the busiest days at the huge shopping complex outside Qormi.

“Mr Cauchi, the Commissioner wishes to know whether it is true that a baby girl of Russian origin has been abducted from here,” they said.

“According to our information, her head was shaved and she was spirited out of the complex.”

Mr Cauchi, who together with his brother-in-law Victor Grech owns Pavi, was dumbstruck.

“This is incredible. You seriously think that a mother will have her daughter abducted from here and there would not have been an instant panic? You think she would not have told us? You think she would not have gone to the nearest police station?” Mr Gauchi answered.

“Since we opened Pavi a few weeks ago we’ve had the nastiest of rumours circulating but this is the worst of all. This could have untold implications. We’ve had newspapers phoning us up all day. People have been reacting with nothing more to go on except a rumour. Somebody has a nasty sense of humour – or just wants to cause mischief.”