Two convicted of trafficking, prostitution

DUBAI // A man and a woman accused of luring two Nigerian women to Dubai with promises of work, then forcing them into prostitution, were sentenced to five years in prison each, a Dubai court ruled this morning.

Both the female defendant, JA, 32, from Ghana, and her Nigerian co-defendant, AG, 32, have held without bail. JA is accused of approaching the two victims in Nigeria.

They told police she offered work in Dubai as waitresses in an African-themed restaurant. They said JA organised their passports and bought them clothes and makeup before flying them to Dubai.

When they arrived, the victims said, their passports were taken and they were forced into prostitution. They said they were sent to Dubai and Abu Dhabi nightclubs to solicit customers to pay JA US$20,000 (Dh73,000) in exchange for their freedom.

Records show one of the women also accused AG of raping her. Both defendants had denied the charges when they first appeared in Dubai's Criminal Court of First Instance in August 2010.

AG was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for rape.