Kidnapped runaway maid forced into prostitution : Bahrain

Manama : Two Asian men were sentenced to five years in prison and slapped a BD2,000 fine each for “selling” a runaway housemaid and pushing her into prostitution.

Announcing the verdict yesterday, Chief Prosecutor Ibrahim Isa Albinjassim confirmed that the defendants were also sentenced to be deported once they complete their jail terms for the charges of human trafficking.

According to the victim’s testimony, she was kidnapped by an unknown individual, who found her on the road after she had escaped from her sponsor’s house. The man apparently offered her a ride to the manpower agency and then took her to an apartment, where she was sold for BD230 to the first defendant.

The woman said she was sold once again by the first defendant to the second man for BD180 and she was taken to an apartment run as a brothel by the first defendant.

There, she was threatened and forced to engage in prostitution with customers brought to her by both perpetrators. Her statement suggests that the money was collected by the first defendant.

Albinjassim said that the case was initially reported to Al Naeem Police Station in the Capital Governorate by a citizen, who informed that an apartment in the area was being run as a brothel.

“When the police reached the spot, they found that the apartment was locked from outside with a padlock. They heard the woman screaming for help when they knocked on the door. She was immediately brought out of the apartment, which contained tools and materials that were used in sexual purposes. The woman then informed the police that she was locked inside by an Asian man, who runs the place as a house of prostitution,” Albinjassim explained.

The prosecutor explained that the victim was referred to a coroner and then to a shelter, where she was provided with medical and psychiatric assistance.

“After hearing witnesses testimonies, the case was referred to the Supreme Criminal Court, which charged them with human trafficking and sentenced them both to five years of imprisonment and BD2,000 fine each,” he added.