DUBAI // A woman was lured to Dubai with the promise of a job, only to be beaten, locked up and told she would have to work as a prostitute.
Four Vietnamese men appeared at the Dubai Criminal Court charged with human trafficking and running a brothel. They were not able to enter pleas as a translator was not available.
Between June 21 and 26 this year, one of the men convinced the Vietnamese victim, 24, to come to Dubai after promising to help her find work.
“I arrived at Dubai International Airport and one of them took me to a flat I later found was located in International City,” said the victim, who is now in the care of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.
After arriving at the apartment she was told she would be working as a prostitute. When she refused, she was beaten and locked up for three days. Her attempts to escape failed.
“I then started threatening one of them that if he didn’t let me go I would find a way to tell the embassy and police,” said the woman.
“So he told me I could leave if I paid for my own ticket. I arranged with my family back home who sent me a ticket and he drove me to the airport.”
At the airport she was told her embassy had lodged a police report after her family contacted them. Investigations led police to the apartment.
“We raided the flat and found it was run as a brothel, where several woman worked as prostitutes,” said an Emirati officer.
He said the four suspects were arrested there.
During questioning, police said the men confessed to running the brothel in return for monthly wages.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 14, when a translator will be provided.
salamir@thenational.ae
