Missionary forced into prostitution, court told

DUBAI // A Russian woman intending to work as a missionary in the Emirates was forced into prostitution to repay the money she had been sold for, a court heard yesterday. M B told prosecutors that she was unaware that another Russian woman had sold her for US$15,000 (Dh56,200) to a woman from Kyrgyzstan who intended to prostitute her in Dubai. When MB arrived in Dubai last July, she said she was taken to the home of the Kyrgyzstani woman, S B, 47, and locked up.

The victim said she was told that her passport would not be returned and that she had to repay her purchase price before she was allowed to leave. In a hearing yesterday at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, S B was charged with human trafficking and illegal confinement, as was her female compatriot, L S, 42; and M A, 43, a male clerk from Egypt. The alleged victim was rescued by A S, 24, a businesswoman from Dagestan who told prosecutors that she was informed of the missionary's plight and was asked to help. She took M B to Dubai Police to file a complaint.

The three defendants denied the charges. The Kyrgyzstani woman said the victim was her cousin. Police said they recovered ledger books from her indicating payments for prostitution. The court adjourned the case until June 8. [e-mail]