Twenty victims of human trafficking to be repatriated to Philippines

Abu Dhabi: Twenty victims of a human trafficking ring, which the Abu Dhabi police said they had busted recently, will soon be repatriated to Philippines, officials disclosed yesterday.

The victims, all Filipinas, were given permission to return to their country after the court was convinced the women had been locked up and forced into prostitution. Legal documents to allow them to travel were signed by the court yesterday, Gulf News has learnt.

A woman, accused of running the brothel the women had been forced to work in, and a man who was working as a waiter in a hotel, are currently awaiting trial in the human trafficking case. Both the accused are also from Philippines.

Abu Dhabi Police said this was one of the biggest human trafficking cases in the country. The victims had been found locked up in three apartments in the city as police raided the flats to rescue the women. The raids came after one of the women managed to escape, and went to the police.

Since the raid, the victims have been housed at the Ewa'a Shelter for Women and Children, a government shelter.

"All the women will be sent back home soon after the legal procedures are over," said a spokeswoman from the shelter. Procedures include clearing of fines on those who had overstayed in the UAE, as well as making arrangements to get passports for those who didn't have one.

By law, the victims may stay in the country until the case is over or choose to return to their country with the approval of the court. "The victims are welcome to return to work to the UAE legally, should they wish to do so. We try to help out as much as we can", the official said.

The Philippine Embassy has been following the case on a daily basis, she added.

The victims, aged between 23 and 33 years, were lured into the country with the promise of attractive salaries.