A Dubai businessman was part of a human-trafficking network luring teenage Bangladeshi girls to the UAE to work as prostitutes in his nightclub, a court heard.
The club owner was one of five men, also from Bangladesh and aged between 20 and 39, accused of enticing the girls to leave their homeland by promising them jobs to help support their impoverished families.
But when they arrived in Dubai, after having their passports altered by the gang to make them appear older, they were made to work as dancers at the night spot in Al Muraqqabat before being forced into prostitution, Dubai Criminal Court was told.
Prosecutors said that police set up an undercover operation in March this year after being tipped off about a young girl being forced to sell her body by the club owner.
A police officer went undercover as a customer, arranging with the accused to have sex with one of the girls.
Police then raided the premises and found 18 females working as dancers and prostitutes, including the four girls, aged between 16 and 18.
The four were referred to Dubai Foundation for Women and Children for support.
“I agreed to come work as dancer not a prostitute but I couldn’t do anything because I am supporting a family of 10 back home,” one of the victims, 17, said in a statement to the court.
The defendants chose girls with difficult financial situations, changed their passports and arranged and paid for their travel.
The five defendants were charged with human trafficking, which they denied in court.
The case was adjourned until June 18.
