Two Swiss students have been fined €100 after they were arrested for swimming in the nude in Sliema on Thursday afternoon, had no idea that public nudity whilst swimming was against Maltese law.

Benjamin Elias and Eric Albert, both 21 years old, told Magistrate Antonio Vella that nude bathing was legal in Switzerland and that they had therefore assumed it to also be the case in Malta.

The magistrate pointed out that this practise was illegal in practically every other country, but after hearing that the men had apologised for the act and shown genuine contrition, the court let them off with a fine.

Lawyer Martin Fenech appeared for the men. Police Inspector Jason Sultana prosecuted.