Two Bulgarian women, one of whom said she came to Malta to relax after her husband died, pleaded guilty to pick-pocketing yesterday.

Ana Danchova Murdzheva, and Yana Marinova Nikolova, both aged 20, pleaded guilty to stealing a wallet containing Lm150 in cash and a debit card as well as to the theft of a Sony digital camera and EUR30.

The court heard how the women had been arrested as they were checking out of their hotel.

Before magistrate Miriam Hayman, the women pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. They had returned the digital camera and the EUR30, but were not in a position to return the Lm150 and the bank card. They requested the court to grant them some time to return the money they stole. Magistrate Hayman deferred the case to tomorrow and in the meantime, the women will remain under arrest.

Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted while Dr Patrick Valentino appeared for the accused.