ABU DHABI // Fresh details of another alleged human trafficking ring emerged yesterday, just 48 hours after The National revealed that a network had been operating from a hotel apartment in the capital.
The latest case, involving two Russians, a Ukrainian and a Syrian, was brought before the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday. Two of the defendants, a Ukrainian woman and a Syrian man, denied charges of prostitution.
"I don't even know what the investigation is about," the Syrian said. He added that he had been surprised by police while he was at work.
One of the Russian defendants was not present at the hearing. The other was in custody at a women's shelter in Abu Dhabi.
The judge granted a two-week postponement after a lawyer representing the shelter said it had been given only two days' notice to arrange for a defence. As a result, few details about the case were forthcoming at the hearing.
Last month, an Egyptian man, two Russian women and an Uzbek woman were sentenced to three years in prison followed by deportation for operating a prostitution ring in a hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The two Russians - a mother and her daughter - lured women to the UAE with promises of employment.
Once they arrived, they were introduced to the Uzbek woman, who informed them that they had been bought for prices ranging from Dh40,000 (US$12,000) to Dh45,000, and that they had to work off their debts through prostitution.
A raid of the mother's residence revealed more than two dozen passports thought to belong to women she recruited to the ring.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
RESULTS
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Middleweight:
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Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
