DUBAI // A Bangladeshi woman who came to the UAE after being promised a job as a maid was kidnapped twice and forced to work as a prostitute, a court was told yesterday.
SI, 25, told prosecutors she was abused for months in a brothel, then faced another ordeal at the hands of two men she thought were going to help her.
MJ, 29, and RA, 22, both Bangladeshi, are charged with kidnapping SI and trespassing after allegedly locking her in an abandoned flat at the England cluster of the International City development. They deny the charges.
SI told prosecutors she was offered a job in Dubai while still in Bangladesh and paid 70,000 takas (Dh3,700) to come to this country, records of the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance showed.
The woman was met at the airport by a man who took her to a house and kept her there for two weeks before moving her to another flat, where she was forced into prostitution, the court was told."I was forced to sleep with five men a day at least," the woman said.
At the brothel, she met MJ and told him she wanted to escape. He gave her a mobile phone.
She escaped from the brothel and contacted MJ, who allowed her to live in his house for a month. One day, the woman told prosecutors, MJ walked in with RA and asked her to have sex with them. When she refused, they beat her, she said.
RA approached her with the same request a few days later and allegedly assaulted her.
On September 7, the defendants took SI to the International City flat, where she was gagged and had her hands and legs tied, she said.
When the men went out, she pulled the gag off her mouth and shouted for help. KW, a Syrian executive assistant, was outside and heard the woman's cries.
"I contacted the police when I saw the woman standing with her a rope dangling off her hands," KW said.
"Police and Civil Defence arrived and broke in to the apartment and we found the woman in one of the rooms in absolute fear."
The trial was adjourned until April 22.
amustafa@thenational.ae
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Fighter profiles
Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Reigning Abu Dhabi World Pro champion in the 95kg division, virtually unbeatable in her weight class. Known for her pressure game but also dangerous with her back on the mat.
Nathiely de Jesus, 23, (Brazil)
Two-time World Pro champion renowned for her aggressive game. She is tall and most feared by her opponents for both her triangles and arm-bar attacks.
Thamara Ferreira, 24, (Brazil)
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Samantha Cook, 32, (Britain)
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Kendall Reusing, 22, (USA)
Another young gun ready to explode in the big leagues. The Californian resident is a powerhouse in the -95kg division. Her duels with Pessanha have been highlights in the Grand Slams.
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Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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FIGHT CARD
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Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5