SlaveryMap

Raffa, Dubai, UAE, United Arab Emirates

Two Chinese women, a 40 year old businesswoman and her 38 year old colleague were tried and convicted of human trafficking crimes. It is believed that two others, including the son of the 40 year old, were also involved. They have been found to have forced the victims, two women and a man, to work at a massage parlour owned by the businesswoman, providing illegal massages and sexual services without getting paid under threat and confinement. One of the victims, a 32 year old Thai woman was picked up from the Dubai International Airport by the businesswoman and her son in February 2010. She was forced to provide sexual services in an apartment run as a massage parlour. She worked primarily for free as the massage centre owner threatened her that she would have to pay the expenses incurred for bringing her to the country and the accommodation. During the investigation, the businesswoman admitted that she seized the passports and visas of the victims upon their arrival. She was accused of taking advantage of the financial hardships of the victims to force them to obey her.

Location
United Arab Emirates · Raffa, Dubai, UAE · 2010 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
After the victim reported the case to the Dubai police they raided the apartment on August 8, 2010 and arrested those involved. They also rescued the other two victims, a woman and a man, both Thais, who were also being forced to provide sexual services for free. One of the victims managed to escape with the help of a customer and he took her to a police station. Nammour, M, 2010, 'Two Women Jailed for Human Trafficking' Khaleej Times, April 18. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/April/theuae_April494.xml&section=theuae&col

Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). Use “Report a problem” below to add a source or flag an issue.

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