Couple gets ten years for forcing countrywoman into prostitution

Dubai: Two Filipinos have been jailed for ten years each for forcing a woman into prostitution.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted a 35-year-old man, S.D., and a 23-year-old woman, A.A., of human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of P.M., a 27-year-old Filipina.

S.D. was also charged with raping P.M.

Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi said the defendants will be deported after serving their sentences.

S.D. and A.A. firmly refuted the charges of forcing the claimant into prostitution. S.D. also denied rape.

"He did not use force. He paid me money and I agreed to have sex with him and did so although I told him I didn't want to," P.M. told the court.

In her testimony, P.M. said A.A. locked her in a flat they shared with two families.

"She kept me locked inside one room," P.M. told the judge.

"She forced me into prostitution. I had a mobile phone but I did not know how to call the police because I didn't have their number.

‘Constantly locked'

"I couldn't ask for help from those who shared the flat with us because my room door was constantly locked."

P.M. said A.A. demanded Dh19,000 if she wanted to quit prostitution and return to her homeland.

In her prosecution statement, P.M. said A.A. picked her up from the airport.

"A.A. kept my passport in her possession," P.M. said. "She told me that I would be working in prostitution.

"When we reached the flat in Al Muraqqabat, she immediately asked me to shower because there was a client waiting for me.

"Then she took photos of me wearing revealing clothes so she could send my pictures to clients. S.D. was the first one who had sex with me."

Prosecution records said a Filipina housewife received a text message from P.M. threatening suicide if she couldn't get help from the Philippines Embassy.

Police arrested the defendants in a sting operation. The judgment is subject to appeal.