Iraqi denies forcing woman

A 29-year-old Iraqi accused of human trafficking denied the charges at the Dubai Criminal Court yesterday.

AN has been accused by the Public Prosecution of bringing a 26-year-old Iraqi woman, LA, over to the UAE and forcing her to work as a prostitute. AN was allegedly helped by a second defendant, R, one of his brothers, who is at large.

At yesterday's hearing, AN's lawyer, Saeed Al Ghailani, asked to cross-examine plaintiff LA. The court adjourned the case to May 23 and asked the Public Prosecution to produce the plaintiff in court.

Earlier, LA had told the Public Prosecution that the defendant's brother, M, went to her home in Iraq and offered her mother to get a job for LA as a belly dancer in the UAE and promised to send the mother Dh2,500 a month. LA's mother agreed and she was handed over a copy of LA's visa and a ticket.

LA testified that M said his brother, AN, would receive LA at the airport. When she arrived, the defendant allegedly took LA to a flat in Dubai and handed her over to his brother R.

Later R asked to have sex with her and said her passport was with him and that she owed him Dh100,000. She was also beaten. Under pressure, LA said she was forced to have sex with customers. AN allegedly took LA to the customers. LA said she told a customer about the defendants and he informed police, who arrested AN.

Police Sergeant Amer Saeed testified that AN told him there was a deal with LA to work as a prostitute before bringing her from Iraq. AN also said a marriage contract was forged to bring LA to the UAE.