Women lose appeal in human-trafficking case

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Court of Cassation upheld a 10-year prison sentence for two women convicted in trafficking an Asian girl, as the Bahrain court refused their appeal that was lodged after the appointed time.

According to court documents, the victim was in her country when she saw an advertisement on Facebook that there was a job as a food presenter in Bahrain. After she applied for the job another Facebook user requested her to send a copy of her passport and a personal photo.

One of the accused women later contacted the victim and informed her that she would be granted work in Bahrain, in addition to accommodation and a travel ticket in return for BD 1,300, which would be deducted from her salary in monthly instalments. She agreed and came to Bahrain. One of the accused then welcomed her and took her to a building where she met the second accused who seized her passport and told her that she would now work as a prostitute.

She was rescued when the Ministry of Interior received a report from the victim’s embassy stating that one of their citizens had been confined in a building and forced to engage in prostitution. The National Committee for Combatting Trafficking in Persons (NCCTIPs) took the initiative to carry out investigations that reached the whereabouts of the victim, who came to Bahrain after being deluded with a well-paying job opportunity.

The police arrested both the accused women and rescued the victim.