DUBAI // Two maids were persuaded to run away from their sponsor by three men, who then sold them into the sex industry.
The Bangladeshi men appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court to face charges of human trafficking the two Indonesian women, which they denied.
One of the victims, a 33-year-old, said she and the other maid were encouraged to flee their sponsor’s home in Ras Al Khaimah after five months in the country.
They were taken by the men to a hotel in RAK where they spent the night before heading to Dubai.
“They took me to a flat in Dubai where I was sold for Dh4,000 and told I have to work in prostitution,” said the woman, who was locked up and abused when she refused.
She was forced to have sex with different men against her will, including one of the defendants, and only managed to escape when she fell ill and was taken to a hospital.
“They gave me Dh500 for my treatment which I used to hail a cab and head to a police station,” she said.
The second victim, a 42-year-old, said her compatriot made arrangements to run away with the defendants without knowing they would be sold.
“We were both locked up after we refused to prostitute ourselves but two days later I managed to runaway while the man who was keeping guard of the flat fell asleep,” said the maid, who also went to the police.
The incident took place in June 2015, but the defendants were arrested in March this year.
A 35-year-old receptionist said he saw the men at the hotel in RAK where they booked four rooms.
“This was not the first time I saw one of the men. He had been a regular guest at our hotel for over six years and every time he checks in, he comes with a number of different women,” said the Indian.
Prosecutors said the men confessed to human trafficking during investigations, but denied the charges in court.
The next hearing will be on September 22.
salamir@thenational.ae
