Dubai A man lost his appeal yesterday, failing to overturn a life sentence that he was handed for sexually exploiting and raping a woman.
The Dubai Appeal Court confirmed the life sentence against the 38-year-old Bangladeshi man, M.N., who was convicted of sexually exploiting and forcing his 28-year-old countrywoman J.B. into prostitution and raping her.
"The court has rejected M.N.'s appeal. He will be deported after completing his punishment," said Presiding Judge Moustafa Al Shennawi.
The appellate court also confirmed a ten-year sentence against a 27-year-old Bangladeshi woman, A.A., and her 45-year-old countryman, M.S., for sexually exploiting J.B.
According to the judgment, a five-year sentence was also confirmed against 45-year-old Bangladeshi A.H. for raping J.B. and aiding and abetting the other convicts.
The convicts will be deported after serving their punishments.
Job promise
Court records said J.B. fractured her bone when the cloth that she used to rope her way down from the first floor snapped and she fell. The defendant pleaded not guilty and refuted all their accusations.
Prosecutors said A.A., M.N. and M.S. formed a gang of human traffickers. They abused J.B.'s neediness and cheated her by promising her a job. Then they locked her up in a flat and forced her into prostitution.
The 28-year-old victim said M.N. picked her up from the airport and took her to the flat.