WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC (SUPPRESSION)    [CAP. 63.  1
CHAPTER 63
WHITE SLA VE TRAFFIC 
(SUPPRESSION) ORDINANCE 
To repeal and to re-enact with amendments the law relating to the
suppression of the White Slave Traffic.
(1st August, 1930)*
ORDINANCE VIII of 1930, as amended by Acts: XXXVI of 1933, XXXIV
of 1955; Legal Notice 46 of 1965; Acts: LVIII of 1974; XXII of 1976, XLIX
of 1981 , XIII of 1983 , XIII of 1989 , V of 1994  and XVI of 2006 ; and Legal
Notice 408 of 2007 .
Short title. 1. The short title of this Ordinance is the White Slave Traffic
(Suppression) Ordinance.
Inducing a person 
who has attained the age of twenty-one years to leave Malta or to come to Malta from elsewhere for purposes of prostitution. 
Amended by:
XLIX. 1981.4.Substituted by:V . 1994.2.
Amended by:
XVI. 2006.28.2.(1) Whoever, in order to gratify the lust of any other
person, compels by means of violence or threats, or induces bydeceit, a person who has attained the age of twenty-one years t o
leave Malta for purposes of prostitution elsewhere or to come t o
Malta from elsewhere for the purposes of prostitution in theseislands, shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two years, with or without solitary confinement:
   Provided that the punishment shall be imprisonment for a ter m
from two to ten years, with or without solitary confinement, if  the
offence is committed - 
(a) by an ascendant by consanguinity or affinity, by the
adoptive father or mother, by the husband or the wife,or by a brother or sister; or
(b) by means of abuse of authority, of trust or of domestic
relations; or 
(c) habitually or for gain.
(2) A conviction under this article shall entail the forfeiture of
every authority and right granted to the offender over the pers on or
property of the person to whose prejudice the offence shall hav e
been committed.
Inducing a person 
under the age of twenty-one years to leave Malta for purposes of prostitution. 
Amended by:
XLIX. 1981.4.Substituted by:V . 1994.3.
Amended by:
XVI. 2006.28.3.(1) Whoever, in order to gratify the lust of any other
person, induces a person under the age of twenty-one years to l eave
Malta or to come to Maltafor purposes of prostitution elsewhere , or
encourages or facilitates his departure from Malta or arrival i n
Malta for the same purpose, shall be liable, on conviction, toimprisonment for a term from two to five years, with or withoutsolitary confinement:
   Provided that the punishment shall be imprisonment for a ter m
from three to ten years, with or without solitary confinement, if the
offence is committed - 
*See Proclamation No. XVII of the 1st August, 1930.
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(a) to the prejudice of a person who has not completed the
age of twelve years; or
(b) by means of violence or threats, or by deceit; or 
(c) by an ascendant by consanguinity or affinity, by the
adoptive father or mother, by the husband or wife ortutor, or by any other person charged, even thoughtemporarily, with the care, education, instruction,control or custody of the person under the age oftwenty-one years; or
(d) habitually or for gain.
(2) A conviction under this article shall entail the forfeiture of
every authority and right granted to the offender over the pers on or
property of the person to whose prejudice the offence shall hav e
been committed, and, in the case of the tutor, his removal from  the
tutorship and his perpetual disability from holding the office of
tutor.
"Woman over age".     
"Girl under age".4. Repealed by: V .1994.4.
Detention, etc., of 
a person against his will in a brothel, etc.
Amended by:
V .1994.5.
Cap. 9.5.(1) Whoever detains, or is wilfully a party to the detention
of a person, against his will, in any brothel, or in or upon an y
premises used for purposes of habitual prostitution, even if su ch
person may have resorted to such place of his own free will, an d
may have remained there to practice prostitution, andnotwithstanding any obligation or debt which such person mayhave contracted with any person whomsoever, shall be liable, onconviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years,unless a higher punishment is applicable under any other provis ion
of the 
Criminal Code  or of any other law.
(2) A person shall be deemed to detain another person, for the
purposes of this article, if, with intent to compel such other person
to remain in a brothel or in or upon any premises used for purp oses
of habitual prostitution, he withholds from such other person a ny
wearing apparel or other property belonging to the latter, or, where
wearing apparel has been lent or otherwise supplied to such oth er
person, he threatens such other person with legal proceedings i f the
latter takes away with him the wearing apparel so lent or suppl ied.
(3) No legal proceedings, whether civil or criminal, shall be
taken against  such other person for taking away or being found  in
possession of any such wearing apparel as was necessary to enab le
such other person to leave such premises or brothel.
Power of 
Commissioner of Police in case of unlawful detention of person. 
Amended by: 
L.N. 46 of 1965;LVIII. 1974.68;V . 1994.6.6.(1) It shall be lawful for the Commissioner of Police,
when, in his opinion, there is reasonable cause to suspect that  a
person is detained against his will for immoral purposes by anyother person in any place, to issue a warrant to any police off icer
not below the rank of inspector, authorising him to search for the
person so detained and to take him out of such place; and theCommissioner of Police may cause the person who was being sodetained to be delivered up to his parents or other relatives, or
otherwise dealt with, as circumstances may permit or require.
   WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC (SUPPRESSION)    [CAP. 63.  3
(2) Whenever the Commissioner of Police has reason to believe
that the prostitution of minors is encouraged or facilitated in  any
brothel or other premises used for purposes of prostitution, he  shall,
without prejudice to any criminal action which may be competent ,
report the matter forthwith to the  who shall thereupon have po wer
to apply to the court of voluntary jurisdiction for an order fo r the
removal of any minor from any such place as aforesaid.
Cap. 9.(3) It shall be lawful for the court, upon inquiring into the
circumstances of the case, to direct that such minor be deliver ed up
to his parents or other ascendants, or to his tutor, as the cas e may
be, with an injunction to provide for his education, and watch over
his conduct, under the penalty laid down in article 35(3) of th e
Criminal Code .
(4) In default of parents or other ascendants, or of a tutor, or  if
such persons are unable to provide for the education or care of  such
minor, it shall be lawful for the court to direct that such min or be
kept in an institution or other place of safety, for a term at the
discretion of the court, but not beyond his minority.
(5) The parents or other ascendants of such minor shall be
liable for any maintenance fees or other expenses, which maybecome due in consequence of the directions given by the court.
Punishment for 
living on the earnings of prostitution, etc. 
Amended by: 
XXXVI. 1933.1; XXII. 1976.4;XLIX. 1981.4; XIII. 1989.2;V . 1994.7;XVI. 2006.28.7.(1) Any person who knowingly lives, wholly or in part, on
the earnings of the prostitution of any other person, shall be liable,
on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two yea rs:
   Provided that where that other person has not attained the a ge
of eighteen years, the offence shall be punishable withimprisonment for a term from eighteen months to four years.
(2) Any person who in any street or other public place or in any
place exposed to the public loiters or solicits for the purpose  of
prostitution or for other immoral purposes, shall be liable, onconviction, to imprisonment for a term of not more than sixmonths.
When a person is 
deemed to be living on the earnings of prostitution.(3) A person shall be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to
be knowingly living, wholly or in part, on the earnings ofprostitution, if it is shown that he lives with, or is habitual ly in the
company of, a person practising prostitution or that he hasexercised control, direction or influence over the movements ofthat person in a manner as to show that he is aiding, abetting or
compelling the prostitution of that person with any other perso n or
generally.
Punishment for 
keeping, etc., brothels. 
Amended by:
XLIX. 1981.4;XIII. 1983.5;L.N. 408 of 2007.8.(1) Whoever shall keep or manage or share with others in
the management of a brothel or of any house, shop or otherpremises or any part thereof which is or are, or is or are repu ted to
be resorted to for the purpose of prostitution or other immoralpurposes shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two years and to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding four
hundred and sixty-five euro and eighty-seven cents (465.87).
(2) Whoever knowingly lets for hire or permits the use or
shares in the profits of any vehicle used for the purpose of
 4       CAP. 63. ]         WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC (SUPPRESSION)
prostitution or other immoral purposes shall be liable, on
conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six monthsand to a fine ( multa ) not exceeding one hundred and sixteen euro
and forty-seven cents (116.47).
(3) A person shall be deemed to share in the management of a
brothel or of any house, shop or other premises or any part the reof
for the purpose of prostitution or other immoral purposes, if h e
partakes directly or indirectly of any of the profits of suchmanagement, or takes an active part in the management of suchbrothel, house, shop, premises or part thereof.
Punishment for use 
of shop, etc., for the purpose of prostitution. 
Amended by: 
XLIX. 1981.4.9. Whoever keeps any shop, lodging-house or hotel or any
private apartment and suffers or permits such shop, lodging-hou se,
hotel or apartment or any part thereof to be used as a place ofassignation for the purpose of prostitution or any other immora l
purpose shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a t erm
from one to six months.
Punishment for 
letting house, etc., for the purpose of prostitution . 
Amended by: 
XLIX.1981.4.10. Whoever owns or has under his administration any house
or other premises and knowingly lets or permits the use of the same
for the purpose of prostitution or other immoral purposes, shal l be
liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term from one to s ix
months.
Increase of 
punishment in case of second or subsequent conviction.11. On a second conviction for any of the crimes specified in
the preceding articles the punishment may be increased by twodegrees, and on a third or subsequent conviction, by three degr ees.
Punishment in case 
of failure to take steps to eject person from premises used for immoral purposes. 
Amended by: 
XIII.1983.5;  
L.N. 408 of 2007.
Cap. 9.12. (1) Whoever, after due notice in writing has been given to
him by the Commissioner of Police that a house or other premise s
owned or administered by him, is or are used for the purpose ofprostitution or other immoral purposes, fails, within six worki ng
days, to take the necessary steps before the competent court fo r the
ejection therefrom of the person or persons occupying the same and
to prosecute the proceedings with due diligence shall be liable  to a
fine ( multa ) in terms of the 
Criminal Code .
(2) In the case of a conviction for an offence against the
provisions of this article, the court shall allow the offender a period
of time within which to take the said steps under a penalty of four
euro and sixty-six cents (4.66) for each day during which thedefault in carrying out the order of the court continues.
Power of 
Commissioner of Police to order premises to be closed pending proceedings.13. The Commissioner of Police may, in the course of any
proceedings for an offence against the provisions of articles 8 , 9, 10
and 12, order that the house, shop, lodging-house, hotel, apart ment
or other premises be kept closed until the court delivers judgm ent,
saving the provisions of any other existing law under which theCommissioner of Police may suspend or withdraw any licence.
Court may cancel 
licence of premises. 
Added by: 
XXXIV . 1955.2.14. On conviction for an offence under this Ordinance, the
court may cancel any licence held by the offender in respect of  any
hotel, lodging-house, shop or other premises wherein or within the
precincts whereof the offence was committed, and, in the case o f
article 8(2), both the offender’s driving licence and any licen ce
   WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC (SUPPRESSION)    [CAP. 63.  5
held by him in respect of the vehicle to which the offence rela tes:
  Provided that nothing in this article shall be deemed to
affect any powers of the Commissioner of Police under any otherlaw to cancel or suspend any licence.