PROSTITUTION: JAIL, FINE FOR THAI LADY

Manama

 A Thai woman accused of forcing 10 fellow countrywomen into prostitution was slapped with 10 years in jail and BD5000 fine. The victims were exploited after they were lured to come to Bahrain with fake employment promises.

The accused's wrongdoing came to light after one of the victims, aged 20, tipped the Thai Embassy about their condition. And police later raided the brothel, where the accused brought men who were looking for paid sex.

The victim said a male compatriot told her there was a job in a Bahrain saloon, from where she could net a worthy monthly wage. However, on her arrival, she was dragged into prostitution.

 When I arrived, I was welcomed at the airport by the Thai woman (the accused) at the Bahrain International Airport, and she drove me to a furnished apartment in Manama," the victim told prosecutors. "But I was locked up there and forced to have sex with customers for an amount ranging between BD20 and BD30," she added.

The 20-year-old said she initially refused to obey her captor but the pimp told her she needed to pay BD2650 to be released. "She told me if I want to earn my freedom, I have to pay her BD2650, the amount she had to spend to bring me to Bahrain. So I didn't have a choice," the victim pointed out.

 However, the latter could not withstand it anymore and informed officials at the Thai Embassy in Bahrain after two months of being held captive.

The  pimp was captured during the police raid and prosecutors said there were several other victims held in the property and forced to commercial sex.

She was held guilty of dragging women into prostitution as well as living partially on it.