Eight expats have been convicted of running a sex trafficking ring after tricking two young women with promising careers, one fashion modelling at an abaya parlour and the other as a salon worker.
Instead, the court heard that the Pakistani expatriate victims experienced ‘nightmarish ordeals’ at a brothel, including kidnapping, assault and being forced to provide services to between six and 14 ‘clients’ per day.
Although the would-be model made a daring escape, she was dragged back into the business by her cruel captors.
One of the defendants, who impersonated a policeman to intimidate the victims, then raped the would-be cosmetologist when she tried to call the police, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Six defendants, including several involved in running the brothel, were sentenced to five years in prison and fined BD2,000 each. They were also ordered to pay for the cost of repatriating the victims back to Pakistan.
Another defendant, who worked as the receptionist of the building the victims were held captive in, and informed the captors when one successfully managed to escape, was sentenced to a year in prison.
The court ordered that all eight Pakistanis be deported after completing their sentence.
“While in her home country of Pakistan, the first victim was looking for a job,” the court heard. “She was told there was an opportunity for her as a fashion model for an abaya shop in Bahrain.
“She agreed to come to Bahrain, and travel arrangements were made for her by the first defendant (female). When she arrived, she was taken to an apartment, and the third and fourth defendants took her passport and told her she will have to work in prostitution.
“When she declined, the first defendant told her she has to pay them back BD1,200 to cover the expenses of bringing her to Bahrain, or she will call the police on her.
“She managed to intimidate her with the help of the second defendant, who came to them in person and claimed that he works in the CID, and was a man of great authority and influence.
“He claimed that if she called the police, it would backfire on her, and she obeyed because she was scared.”
The verdict went on to state that the Pakistani victim began having sex with clients, starting at six per day, but it eventually rose to 14. The earnings were collected by the first defendant.
The court heard the harrowing story of her attempted escape, which ultimately failed because of the organised web of suspects who were conspiring to keep her locked up.
She had once tried to flee by getting in a car with an individual, who was going to take her to police. But the fifth defendant – the building’s receptionist – told the first defendant. The victim received ‘a phone call, and voluntarily came back to the apartment of horrors out of fear.
Meanwhile, the second victim contacted an individual who provided visas to GCC countries, through whom she learned that there was a vacancy at a ladies’ salon.
She came to Bahrain and was brought to where the first victim was. As the two women were chatting, the deceived woman told her that she was lied to, and that she will be made to enter the vice trade too.
When the defendants told her what her new ‘job’ would be, she said that she will not comply, so the first defendant repeated her playbook with the other victim, asking for the money ‘back’ and threatening to call the police.
Once again, the impostor policeman came to them, claiming he was a high-level officer, and told her that she has to obey their orders.
“The victim said no and yelled at him. Then, she entered the bathroom and locked herself in, where she told her family about her situation. Her husband told her to go to the police,” read the verdict.
“She thought the defendant had left, so she got out of the bathroom. She did not know they were still in the flat.”
The ruling went on to state that the second defendant then forcibly took her to another room, and raped her in the first defendant’s presence. After putting her through that horrifying ordeal, the suspects left.
Having seen what happened, the first victim gave her compatriot the number of a Bahraini man she had met. They called him, and he came to the building, helping the women escape through the backdoor.
The victims then went to the police to report the defendants.
The eight expats were charged with operating as a criminal group that trafficked the victims and ran a brothel.
The Public Prosecution accused them of depriving the women of their freedom, forcing them to practise prostitution, and encouraging them to provide sex for money.
One of the defendants has already lodged an appeal at the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court. The next hearing is to take place later today.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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