Former housemaid was forced into prostitution, Dubai court hears



DUBAI // Two men denied luring a maid with a promise of a better-paying job, only to force her into prostitution.

At the Dubai Criminal Court, Bangladeshis M A, 23, and M M, 26, both denied charges of human trafficking, while M M denied running a brothel.

Prosecutors said that last year the Bangladeshi victim had arrived through a labour office in Ajman and began working for an Emirati family in Dubai.

A month after she arrived, M S, 26, said “the sponsor’s wife created a problem so they took me back to the labour office”. She told prosecutors that while attending the labour office, she met a woman who convinced her to run away.

“I said OK and she took me in a cab to the residence of a man identified as ‘E’. She said he will find me the job she promised, but two days later I was taken and given to a man who I saw as he paid E money,” said the maid, who was taken to a flat in Dubai then to a massage parlour where she was told she would work as a masseuse in return for Dh1,000.

“I said OK but then noticed all customers were men. One day a customer wanted to have sex and when I refused I was beaten up and had to give in. I worked in prostitution for five days,” she said.

The woman was then sold to M M, who locked her up in a brothel and forced her to work as a prostitute. She tried to escape but was caught and beaten.

“M M then called M A, who took me in a car but when he was arranging with some men and taking money from them, police raided and arrested all of us,” she said.

M M was arrested the next day, records showed.

Maj M M A, a policeman, said that his officers had received information about the two men and that they were trying to sell a woman for Dh5,000.

The next hearing will be on Sunday.

salamir@thenational.ae

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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East