Hearing date set in vice trade case

The trial of a man suspected of running a human trafficking ring in Bahrain by “buying” women and “offering” them to potential clients at night clubs will begin on November 19, 2019, the Public Prosecution confirmed yesterday. This was announced by Capital Governorate Prosecution Chief Prosecutor Abdullah Al Thawadi, who stated that the prosecution has interrogated the man and ordered to arrest and summon his suspected female accomplice who’s still at large.

According to Mr Al Thawadi, the victim arrived in the Kingdom to work as a waitress. She was received by the female suspect, who offered her a shelter and later “sold her” to  the primary suspect for a certain amount. The Chief Prosecutor explained that the male suspect restricted the victim’s freedom and forced her to sign documents that indicate she owed him large amounts of money.

In order to return the money, the victim was allegedly forced to have sexual intercourse with different men in return of money. Mr Al Thawadi added that the male suspect “offered her to clients at night clubs”. “The Public Prosecution has started the investigation immediately after being informed of the incident, where it listened to the statements of the victim and interrogated the first suspect, and ordered his remand in custody pending further investigations.

“The victim was later referred to the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons,” Mr Al Thawadi clarified, adding that an arrest warrant has been issued against the female suspect. Explaining further, Mr Al Thawadi also said that police investigations indicated that the male defendant “buys girls and incites them to engage in prostitution by force” after making them sign contracts with large amounts in order to pressure them into Prostitution.

The investigations also showed that the female suspect owns and runs a prostitution network in different parts of the Kingdom, by recruiting girls from an Asian country and “selling” them to pimps.