Dubai: A housemaid was jailed for three years for luring a woman she met on Facebook to fly to Dubai for work before forcing her into prostitution.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 33-year-old Filipina housemaid, J.F., of sexually exploiting her 31-year-old countrywoman, C.D., and forcing her to have sex with strangers for money.

The court also jailed a 31-year-old Pakistani driver, S.R., for three years for having sex with C.D. against her will.

“The two accused will be deported after serving their punishments,” said Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi in courtroom three on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said J.F. communicated with C.D. via Facebook before she lured her to come and work in Dubai.

According to the accusation sheet, J.F. committed a human trafficking crime by sexually exploiting C.D. and forcing her into the sex trade. She was also accused of running a brothel.

“I did not do that. I am not guilty,” argued J.F. when she defended herself in court.

The court gave the housemaid a lenient punishment after she provided the court with a written waiver from C.D. S.R. claimed he had consensual sex with C.D.

The visitor said she was using Facebook when she met J.F., who claimed that she had got her a visit visa.

“I flew in to Dubai in September to work as a saleswoman. J.F. took me to a flat. She locked me inside and confiscated my passport. J.F. said I had to pay her Dh20,000 that she claimed to have paid for my visa. When I said I did not have such an amount, she suggested that I work in prostitution. I refused. She threatened me saying that I would not be able to return to my homeland and see my family.

“She confined me inside the flat and banned me from going out except with her. I was forced to have sex with nearly 11 men against my will. She used to pocket the money. There was another woman who worked as a prostitute in the flat. One day I sneaked out when J.F. as sleeping. I went to the Philippines Consulate and informed them what had happened,” C.D. claimed to prosecutors.

The primary verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days.