DUBAI // A woman is charged with running a brothel, exploiting a juvenile in prostitution and having sex with a man outside marriage, a court heard this morning.
The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told the housewife SM, 48, an Emirati, ran a brothel in the Mutaina area between May 2010 and May 10, 2011, when she was arrested.
She denied the charges in court today, saying: "I did not do this, your honour; I own the apartment but it's rented to a Syrian man. I am a mother and have been in detention for six months. Please grant me bail, your honour."
A housemaid, FM, 23, Ethiopian, is charged with practicing prostitution while another maid, SY, Filipina, 45, is charged with criminal complicity by helping SM run the brothel. Prosecutors said she arranged customers' visits and handled payments.
A Syrian accountant, TS, 60, is also charged with criminal complicity for facilitating prostitution and providing SM women to work in the sex industry.
FM, SY and TS denied the charges.
AA, 33, an Iranian visitor, is facing charges of having sex outside wedlock with SM.
Prosecutors said SM exploited an underage girl who she had working in prostitution, taking all the money she earned. The girl was referred to Juvenile Court on charges of having consensual sex with several men.
Records show that the girl confessed to the charges. She told prosecutors that on May 10, she was arrested in the brothel naked as she arrived to have sex with a customer.
A verdict is expected on October 27.
salamir@thenational.ae