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A Thai pimp, known as ‘Pepsi’, who was previously convicted of sex trafficking and deported to her home country, now allegedly sends ‘girls’ to Bahrain to work in the vice trade, with the help of an accomplice, the court heard.
The two women are on trial for trafficking a mother-of-two who travelled to Bahrain believing that she would earn a good amount of money from sex work.
When she asked to quit her job as an erotic masseuse, she was allegedly sold to a pimp based in Saudi Arabia for BD300, the court heard, which led her to report the racket to the police.
The defendants are standing trial at the High Criminal Court on charges of sex trafficking, coercion, and subjecting the victim to ‘slave-like conditions’ by selling her.
They were also charged with exploiting the victim’s earnings as a source of income and depriving her of her passport, which was handed to them for safekeeping. Pepsi is standing trial in absentia.
“I saw an advert on social media about a job opportunity for sexual massage services overseas, and I contacted the person behind it (the first defendant),” the 40-year-old alleged victim testified.
“We agreed that she would arrange my travel and visa and bring customers for me, and we’d share the profit. I promised that I’d pay her BD1,600 from what I make in this job.
“I came here and was received by Sonya (the second defendant), who took me from place to place and supervised my work. She took my passport and all the money I earned from sex work.”
She stated that the business was run out of a licensed massage parlour on Exhibition Road.
However, when she decided to leave the brothel, the defendants allegedly refused to return her passport, and sold her to a pimp operating in Saudi Arabia.
The 40-year-old managed to make a call to the police, which led to the arrest of the second defendant, Sonya.
During questioning, Sonya reportedly admitted to everything, stating that Pepsi would send women from Thailand to join the vice trade in Bahrain and she would follow her orders, and run the business on her behalf.
“The first defendant was deported some time ago for engaging in prostitution,” a policeman told the Public Prosecution. “She lured the victim into coming to Bahrain to offer sexual massages.
“She took advantage of her circumstances, and made her believe that prostitution was lucrative, and that she would be able to pay her debts and live a comfortable life.”
Judges set August 11 as the date when a verdict will be issued in the case.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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