Human trafficking life sentences overturned

Ten Syrians - including some who were jailed for life for their part in the capital's largest human trafficking case - have been
acquitted or had their sentences slashed in the Abu Dhabi Appeals Court today.

The four main defendants, AK, AI, SS and MI, some of whom had been sentenced to life, were cleared of human trafficking and were sentenced instead to two years' jail for taking advantage of prostitution. The judge also ordered police to monitor them for two years.

Another three defendants have previously been acquitted of the charges.

KA, ND, and MA, who is a woman, were acquitted of their charges. However, KA was sentenced to three months for possessing alcohol.

FS, HM and SA were sentenced to a year in prison plus fined Dh 5,000. They will also be under police surveillance for another year.

The defendants have already served their sentences.

AK lost balance and collapsed after he heard the judge's verdict that replaced his life sentence with two years. Police officers helped him leave the courtroom. He later left the court building with SS in tears.