Forcing a woman into prostitution landed expat to 15 years of jail time

Bahrain’s Criminal Court has sentenced a Thai woman to 15 years in jail and deportation after being found guilty of human trafficking, local media reported.

According to investigations, the defendant forced a fellow Thai woman into prostitution from August to November of 2019. She recruited the victim by promising a waitress job with good pay at reputed hotels and night clubs here.

Court files showed that the defendant sent the victim a flight ticket, after completing all formalities for a visit visa to Bahrain, with the assistance of a local documents clearance office.

The victim spoke before the court about her ordeal, stating that she was shocked upon her arrival to Bahrain to know that she would be working in the flesh trade, hopping from one nightclub to another to search for customers.

The woman said she was forced to have sex with an average of three customers from different nationalities a day, and explained that she was forced to offer sex for a short period in return of BD20, while the defendant would collect BD60 from the customer for a full night of service.

The woman told the judges that she escaped one night with the assistance of a customer, who she said was having difficulties communicating with her. She said she used translation software to convey to him that she was trapped and forced to practice prostitution.

According to her statements, the customer booked a cab and took the woman to the nearest police station and reported the matter. An investigation led to the identification and arrest of the defendant, who was referred to the Public Prosecution for interrogation. The prosecution charged the defendant with human trafficking by restraining the freedom of the victim and forcing her into vice.

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