MEMBERS of a major human trafficking ring who allegedly lured women from Kazakhstan after promising them better paying jobs have appeared in court for the first time.
The illegal group is allegedly run by a Bahraini man, aged 39, helped by four women from Kazakhstan and three Bahrainis and an Indian man.
The nine defendants appeared at the High Criminal Court for the first time and denied charges of human trafficking, assault and holding their victims captive.
Authorities confiscated BD200,000 believed to be obtained from the illicit trade and drugs.
The defendants were arrested after the Kazakhstan consulate reported to Bahraini authorities that a woman from Kazakhstan had been tortured and forced into the vice trade.
Investigations led authorities to the human trafficking ring which reportedly forced 21 victims into the vice trade.
One of the woman from Kazakhstan denied being part of the human trafficking ring but admitted to prostitution.
“I came to Bahrain in October 2018 to work as a prostitute,” the 20-year-old female told prosecutors.
“I was then told that a Bahraini man (a 39-year-old businessman) could help me work as a prostitute in Bahrain.
“He helped me work in a hotel as a prostitute and I gave the money to other women from Kazakhstan (co-defendants).
“I suffered from skin infections in my private areas because of having sex with a lot of men.
“The Bahraini man told me to go back to my country but I wanted to make more money and told him I would continue having sex with men for money.
“I worked for the Bahraini man and had sex with men for BD50 each.
“I went to different hotels and had sex with many men.”
The trial has been adjourned until March 11 for review.
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