Man gets 15 years for abusing needy girl

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A man who tortured and abused a needy girl must see out his 15-year-jail term, Dhs100,000 fine and deportation penalty, the Appeals Court has ruled.

The Asian defendant, 49, first compelled the Pakistani girl, 13, to meet clients in her homeland. He then brought her to the UAE in July 2017 posing as her father and continued forcing her into prostitution. He operated a brothel in Abu Hail area and benefited from proceeds of streetwalkers until Sept.18, 2018. He and a 25-year-old unemployed countryman sexually assaulted the girl on several occasions.

The girl complained to forensic doctors that the defendant assaulted her with a stick, razor and a burning cigarette whenever she rebuffed his advances. A forensic report discussed bruises, injuries and a burn.

Both men denied. The Dubai Criminal Court found them guilty. It sentenced the defendant to 15 years behind bars and slapped him with a Dhs100,000 fine. It sentenced the countryman to three years in jail.

The court ordered the confiscation of the seized stick and both defendants be deported after serving their jail terms. Each one sought to challenge the ruling. The Appeals Court has rejected their pleas.

In prosecution records, the girl complained that he first exploited her while she was still in Pakistan. He brought her on a visit visa disguised as his daughter. He coerced her into the flesh trade for a year.

He would procure around 11 people a day. He kept pocketing proceeds. He also sexually assaulted her. He would flog various parts of her body with a stick whenever she declined to surrender to him.

He sexually assaulted her on various occasions over a period of one year while he was under the influence of alcohol.  Finally, he entered the brothel inebriated and asked for her. She declined to comply.

He punched her mouth until she gave up to his advances. She later ran out of the room disrobed. The countryman who was in a developing relationship with her was quick to report the sexual attack to police.

The girl narrated the ordeal to a Yemeni sergeant. Another sergeant said the defendant denied abuse and confessed to alcohol consumption. A captain said he confessed to have made her work in the brothel.

Before prosecutors, he confessed to have exploited her for around two years. A convicted streetwalker said to have seen him beating and abusing her. The countryman said, “He brought her twice to my apartment. I paid him Dhs650.”