Russian woman charged with human trafficking

A 27-year-old Russian woman forced two fellow countrywomen into prostitution in Bahrain in return of money, court reports read.

The defendant reportedly lured the victims, aged 24 and 30, to come to Bahrain by providing them fake employment offers.

But they were forced to sleep with strangers in return of money, court reports said.  

The duo told prosecutors that they were working as waitress in a Russian bar, where they met the Russian woman who offered them jobs in Bahrain.  “When we arrived in Bahrain, she (the 27-year-old defendant) received us at the airport. She then took us to an apartment where she requested us to have sex with customers. We refused and we expressed our wish to fly back to our country. But she refused to provide us tickets. She also locked us in an apartment and demanded us to pay BD750,” one of the victims told prosecutors. 

The duo have been saved after police received a tip off from the Russian Embassy in Bahrain stating that they were imprisoned in an apartment in Gudaibiya. The defendant was arrested from the same apartment by vice squads. 

“I was ordered to go and receive them at the airport by a Russian woman. I didn’t force them into prostitution,” the defendant told prosecutors, denying any wrongdoing. 

Having refused to reveal the name of the Russian woman who gave her the order, the defendant has been charged with living completely on prostitution, human trafficking and living illegally in the country.