Forcing women into flesh trade: Court rejects appeal
The High Criminal Appeals Court rejected the appeal of a Thai woman convicted of forcing 10 fellow countrywomen into prostitution. But the court has reduced her jail term to seven years from 10 years.
The victims had been exploited after they were lured to come to Bahrain by promising fake employment offers. The defendant’s wrongdoing brought to light after one of the victims, aged 20, tipped the Thai Embassy about their ordeal. The police later raided the brothel, where the defendant was bringing men to have sex with the women for money.
The 20-year-old victim said she was forced into prostitution after being brought to Bahrain by an employment scam. The defendant told her that a male compatriot had informed her about a job in a saloon, through which she could earn money.
“When I arrived, I was welcomed by a Thai woman (the defendant) at the Bahrain International Airport. She drove me to a furnished apartment in Manama,” the victim told prosecutors. “I was locked up there and forced to have sex with customers for an amount ranging between BD20 and BD30.”
The victim said when she refused initially, the pimp told her that she needed to pay BD2,650 to release her. “She told me if I want to earn my freedom, I have to pay her BD2,650 which she spent to bring me to Bahrain. So I didn’t have a choice.”
However, the victim informed officials at the Thai Embassy here after two months of being held captive.
The pimp was arrested during a police raid. Prosecutors said that several other women were held captive in the property.
The Thai woman was indicted for dragging women into commercial sex acts as well as living partially on prostitution. She was earlier fined BD5,000 for her crime.
Photo : indiatvnews.com
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