AN EXPATRIATE allegedly forced more than 20 women into vice trade after promising them jobs as masseuses.
The 30-year-old Thai woman, nicknamed ‘Meou’, is standing trial at the High Criminal Court along with three of her fellow nationals and a 40-year-old Bahraini man.
They have been charged with running a trafficking ring, holding their victims captive and assault.
The gang was arrested after a Thai victim, aged 25, was rescued by authorities last month after she managed to alert embassy officials about her ordeal.
The alleged female pimp initially told prosecutors that her co-defendants paid her BD200 for each woman she managed to lure into the country.
“I needed money, so I used social media to lure women into the vice trade,” she said in her statement to prosecutors.
“They thought they were going to work as masseuses. However, after arriving here, I would tell them to pay BD2,000 in return for their freedom or have sex with men for money.”
“A woman who identified herself only as ‘meow’ (30-year-old defendant) contacted me through social media,” the 25-year-old told judges.
“She was initially friendly and said that she would help me find a job in Bahrain.
“She then met me at Bahrain International Airport in September along with three Thai women and a Bahraini man nicknamed ‘Joe’.
“They took me to an apartment in Manama before they locked me up.
“I was forced to have sex with more than 50 men.”
The trial has been adjourned until December 14 for a ruling.
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