Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A man and a woman who coerced an underage girl into prostitution until she became mentally ill must serve seven years behind bars, a court decided.

The Asian dyer, 30, and unemployed female cohort, 33, lured the Bangladeshi girl, 15, with the prospect of employing her at a ladies salon. They exaggerated her age in the passport, prosecutors said on Mar.18.

Upon arrival at Sharjah airport, they took her to an apartment (brothel) in Al Muteena area. She cried. They demanded her to work and repay Dhs10,000 they spent on bringing her. Police intervened.

Besides, prosecutors accused both of cohabitation and accused the accomplice of having worked as a prostitute. The dyer denied trafficking and exploiting the girl but confessed to have had affairs with the accomplice.

The accomplice denied all charges. The Criminal Court sentenced both to seven years behind bars plus deportation over human trafficking. It additionally jailed the dyer for one year over his illicit affairs with the accomplice.

It additionally imprisoned the accomplice for six months over prostitution. Both appealed. The Appeals Court upheld the punishments. The courts ordered the apartment be locked and the seized items be confiscated.

On the record, the Anti-Human Trafficking Department received an alert that the dyer confined a girl inside his flat and was forcing her to streetwalk by beating her. Cops nabbed him, stormed the flat and rescued the girl.

A lieutenant explained, “We noticed the girl was suffering from psychological disorders. She behaved abnormally. She kept talking to herself, looking upwards and laughing. She performed prayers from time to time.” Before the police, the dyer denied having exploited her. He contended he only repeatedly beat her and tied her up for disturbing him and refusing to sleep. And it was the reason she appeared deranged.

However, a female witness revealed he and his accomplice forced her to work in the brothel for a week. She returned abnormal, undressing and hurling clothes. He tied her arms and legs with a veil and slapped her.

She recalled a time when the dyer beat the girl, demanding her to repay money spent on bringing her. Once she heard him and the accomplice saying they used the girl to earn Dhs2,000 proceeds from 120 clients.

A policeman gave a similar testimony. A hospital report showed doctors confirmed she suffered from severe mental disorder. While at the psychiatry section she appeared anxious and distressed. She kept undressing.