A HOUSEMAID has claimed that she was treated ‘like an animal’ by two men, who allegedly raped and brutally assaulted her for more than 80 days.
The 35-year-old Indonesian said she ran away from her sponsor after the men enticed her with promises of a better job.
However, she was held captive by the two Bangladeshi men, aged 30 and 34, in an apartment in Manama and forced into prostitution, the court heard yesterday.
The case is being reviewed by the High Criminal Court which has adjourned the trial until January 10 for lawyers to present their defence arguments.
The men have been accused of kidnapping, holding the victim captive and forcing her into prostitution. The 34-year-old was also accused of raping the victim and the 30-year-old of assaulting her.
Despite denying the charges to the Public Prosecution and at the first court session on December 14, confidential informants confirmed the victim’s ordeal.
“I was working as a housemaid and was tricked into running away by a fellow national who promised me a better job with better pay,” the victim told the Public Prosecution in her statement.
“I got into a car and the 34-year-old took me to their apartment. He shocked me by saying he paid BD100 for me and that I will have to work as a prostitute.
“I was trapped in that apartment for two-and-a-half months and forced into prostitution by the two men. I was also raped repeatedly by the 34-year-old.”
The GDN previously reported that the Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan, who is also Labour Market Regulatory Authority chairman, said 540 runaway housemaids had been caught over the last three years. He also added that there were 2,596 cases of runaway housemaids.
The victim also claimed that on one occasion she was raped by 25 Asian men in a vice den.
“I was beaten up regularly and when I refused to work as a prostitute, I was forced to clean their house and cook for them,” she added in her statement to the Public Prosecution.
“On November 24 last year, the 34-year-old took me to a client who left the door open and I managed to run away and seek help.
“They treated me like an animal for more than 80 days.”
Meanwhile, a 27-year-old Bahraini officer at the Interior Ministry’s Anti-Human Trafficking Directorate revealed that confidential informants confirmed the defendants’ identity and their involvement in the case.
He also said that the case was registered on November 24 last year at the Hoora Police Station and an investigation revealed that the victim was beaten on a regular basis by the 30-year-old.
“The 34-year-old raped her twice to break her spirit and assaulted her regularly to make her feel that she had no hope for a better life,” he said in his statement to the Public Prosecution.
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