Dubai: A visiting prostitute, who promoted her services on social media, ended up being assaulted and had her Dh31,000 worth of valuables robbed by four men.
The 37-year-old Russian woman, J.L., visited Dubai repeatedly to work in prostitution during two-month visit visa stays, during which she claimed to have earned more than Dh37,000 each time.
During her last visit in October 2014, she posted indecent images on the internet and social media to promote her activities before a client phoned and arranged to meet her in her hotel. The man turned out to be four men, all Armenians, who showed up at her hotel room in Al Barsha. They attacked her brutally and stole her valuables and cash at knifepoint.
Prosecutors accused J.L. of working in prostitution and using the internet and social media services to encourage and promote prostitution.
Meanwhile, the four Armenians, 32-year-old A.H., 29-year-old A.G., 30-year-old U.A. and 27-year-old T.T. were accused of assaulting J.L., threatening her with a knife and stealing her Dh5,000 in cash and Dh26,000 worth of valuables and electronic devices.
The Russian woman entered a guilty plea when she showed up before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.
“Yes, I worked in prostitution. I posted images on the internet and placed my contact number. One man called and arranged to come to my hotel … but four men ended up at the hotel,” J.L. told presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi.
T.T. firmly refuted the accusations by telling the court: “I did not even go to the hotel. I was not there … I am innocent.”
The other three suspects pleaded not guilty.
When asked by presiding judge Al Shamsi about their images in the CCTV footage in the hotel lobby, the trio, A.H., A.G. and U.A., confessed that they went to the hotel but did not steal. “We did go to the hotel. I saw the woman’s advertisement on the internet. I called her and arranged to go to her room. We went there to have sex with her but we did not beat her or steal her belongings as she claimed,” A.H. contended in court.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the Armenians stole the Russian woman’s pearl necklace and pearl bracelet, gold chain, two rings, a pair of earrings, two iPhones, and two smart tablets. The trial continues.
