Apr 28, 2010 at 10:31
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Prostitution ringleader appears in UAE court
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UAE's new unit to crack on human trafficking
DUBAI - The alleged ringleader of Abu Dhabi’s largest human-trafficking ring on Tuesday claimed the women he lured to the UAE wanted to work in the sex trade, local daily the National reported.
The defendant, a Syrian identified as S.A., told a court the women were willing workers and free to travel in and out of the country, the newspaper said.
The defendant produced documents that showed some of the women had travelled abroad in the last few years, the National said.
The 18 victims, all Moroccan women, claimed they were tricked into coming to the UAE with the promise of good jobs, but when they arrived they were locked in villas and apartments and forced into prostitution.
S.A. was convicted in absentia on Jan. 19 and handed a life sentence along with seven of his countrymen for operating a human trafficking and prostitution ring.
Police apprehended S.A. in Abu Dhabi after being a fugitive for five months. Under UAE law a person convicted in absentia can be retried upon their arrest.
The ruling was only the second time a UAE court has imposed the life sentence in a human trafficking case.
The court also jailed six other people, including the defendant’s wife, for 10 years each for assisting with the trafficking and exploitation.
-- Wed May 05, 2010 11:43 am --
I read some news about human trafficking and found out that this is rampant in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Though it is illegal, we can not deny the truth of its existence in the Arab Cities. It is so sad to think that many women and minors become victims of this trade and their number is growing....
