Tailor gets jail for forcing maid into prostitution

A tailor has been jailed for five years after a court on Thursday convicted him of trafficking a woman, detaining her in a flat and raping her, reported Gulf News.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 42-year-old Bangladeshi to five years in jail, although he denied the charges of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, rape and locking his compatriot housemaid in a flat.

Pronouncing the judgment Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Abdul Jawad said the accused, SA, will be deported after the completion of his jail term.

"I did not commit a human trafficking crime… I am innocent and did not coerce her into prostitution, but she is the one who refused to work as a housemaid and asked to work in the sex trade. She wanted fast money," said SA when he defended himself in court.

According to the charge sheet, the defendant flew the woman to Dubai after persuading her she would be working as a housemaid for an Emirati family.

In her statement before prosecutors, 20-year-old PS testified: "I paid around Dh3,150 to a woman in my hometown who promised to offer me a housemaid's job in Dubai."