Couple charged with forcing maid

The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has adjourned to September 7 the case of an African couple charged with forcing a compatriot woman into prostitution and confining her illegally.

The court was giving more time for the defence of the accused, identified as FM and HA, to prepare their case, according to a report in the 24 news site.

The victim was offered the job of a nanny in Abu Dhabi to help the accused’s wife who had recently given birth.

The accused brought the victim into the UAE on a maid’s visa on May 25.

After her arrival, the victim found out that the couple intended to force her into the vice trade. When the victim refused to work in the vice trade, the accused couple allegedly locked her in a room and threatened to kill her.

The victim claimed that she was given only bread and Pepsi for every meal but admitted that she was not physically harmed by the couple.

After spending several days alone in a locked room, the victim finally agreed to work in prostitution.

One night, the victim, along with other girls in the vice trade, went to Hamdan Centre to look for customers.

There, she took a taxi and went to the nearest police station where she reported her ordeal .

The accused FM, who works as  a storekeeper, denied the victim’s accusations.  He claimed that he was a friend of her brother and that he had helped her by bringing her into the UAE.

The other accused HA, who works as hairdresser, denied forcing the victim into prostitution but admitted locking her up in a flat on her husband’s instructions.


 

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