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A COURT heard how a policeman rescued a woman who was being held captive by an alleged human trafficking gang.
The 24-year-old Bahraini was giving evidence at the High Criminal Court in the trial of three Thai women, aged between 30 and 40, and a 25-year-old Bahraini, who earlier denied running the ring and holding victims captive.
The vice trade came to light when Interpol informed Bahrain’s authorities about a Thai woman being held captive in an apartment in Juffair for 21 days.
Policemen rescued the woman on November 17 last year and arrested the defendants.
The policeman recounted how the victim was extremely happy after being rescued by authorities.
“We received a notification from Interpol about a woman being held captive in an apartment in Juffair,” he told a leading judge.
“We went to room 303 of the apartment block and I found the woman who was in a state of fear and was extremely happy when she found out we were policemen.
“She said she was so happy to be able to go back to her country.
Boyfriend
“We then arrested one of the defendants (a woman aged 35).
“We then apprehended her boyfriend (the 25-year-old Bahraini defendant) who helped her run the vice ring.
“They then led us to their co-defendants.
“The victim described how the defendants assaulted her and forced her into prostitution.
“The female pimp told the victim to pay her BD1,500 in return of her freedom.
“However, when the victim managed to pay her the money the female pimp asked her for another BD600 and refused to return her passport.”
The 24-year-old victim previously described how the alleged female pimp, aged 35, nicknamed “Nadiya” promised her a better-paying job before locking her up in an apartment and forcing her into prostitution.
The defendants allegedly took her to clubs to meet men with whom she had sex in return for money.
The victim said she was saving money for her freedom, but could not reach her target as the number of clients dropped due to Covid-19 regulations.
The trial has been adjourned until today for review.
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