Prostitute's escape leads to raid of Dubai brothel

A woman was forced by her compatriot to work as a prostitute to pay for her visa and travel expenses to the UAE.

DUBAI // A woman was lured to the country with the promise of a job as a hotel receptionist before being forced to prostitute herself, a court heard today.

Prosecutors told the Dubai Criminal Court that MS, 30, a Filipina, promised the woman a job in the hotel where she worked as a cook.

But when the woman arrived at Dubai International Airport she was taken to a brothel in Al Satwa, had her passport confiscated, and was told to prostitute herself so she could pay Dh26,000 in visa and travel expenses.

The cook threatened to kill her if she did not comply, so she gave in. Three days later she escaped and reported her plight to her embassy in Abu Dhabi.

They referred her to a women's shelter and notified Dubai Police, who raided the brothel and arrested the cook as well as two other Filipinas - JP, 27, and JL, 35.

Police captain AH, an Emirati, told the court that the cook threatened the woman by claiming she was well connected and could have her locked up in jail.

The cook was charged with human trafficking and with managing the prostitution business of JP and JL.

JP and JL were charged with prostitution.

In court, none of the women entered a plea, as they did not have a lawyer.

The case was adjourned to May 8 to appoint one.