Men accused of keeping 19 women locked in villa
Three men have been accused of confining women, who worked for a hotel, inside a villa and not allowing them to go out during their free time or holidays.
The three men, S.S., a 41-year-old electrician; K.M., a 61-year-old supervisor; and K.A., a 54-year-old cook, were said have unlawfully locked up the women from sunset to sunrise daily in the employees’ residence.
Prosecution records said the 19 women worked for the hotel as receptionists, housekeepers, cleaners and maids.
As soon as the women finished work, the trio would lock them inside the villa and keep them confined until the next morning.
One of the housekeepers, 30-year-old M.N., testified that she had been working for the hotel for two years. “I was hired on a Dh 600 salary. Since I started work, the senior workers told me that it was against the hotel’s policy to go out of the residence during free time or after work or on holidays. Our job shift was from 8am to 8pm. As soon as we returned to the residence, the defendants would lock the doors and prevent us from going out. We were forced to agree because we had no other choice and we were forced also to be obedient to earn a living.
A 31-year-old cleaner confirmed M.N.’s statement adding that she and her colleagues were forced to agree to remain confined to make a living. She was hired on a Dh 700 salary.
A 28-year-old housekeeper, J.H., claimed that she was hired for Dh1,500 but when she joined work, the salary was reduced to Dh700.
“When I asked why, the management told me that they had to deduct the cost of my plane ticket, visa and ID,” she added.
Prosecution records cited the defendants admitting that they locked up the women for their own safety and top protect them from being harassed by bachelors who lived in the same area.
What a shame for bringing workers for such low salaries, locking them up and then expecting them to be up at work every morning trying to delight the customers
Perhaps they were working on behalf of their sponsors and doing their dirty work for them. The whole system stinks. They hold a threat of deportation and cancellation of visa over your head and for some poor souls it is a question of life and death. The laws and rules all around the place actually help guys like this and others in higher positions to play around and abuse lower level employees and to threathen them into keeping quiet . Besides the salaries they were paid are a shame and a disgrace to the very people who sanctioned this visas and jobs
Torture it is. We are talking about grown women here.. responsible, sane, matured, adults! They don't need any self appointed guardians cum jailers. Glad these men were caught.. now they can taste the life of the imprisoned and know how their victims must have felt.
That said, wonder if any case will be pursued against their official sponsors? Were they really unaware of the plight their own employees?
new slavery law
Exactly Humbles they are grown up ladies not children living in one of the worlds safest cities as the Gulf Countries like to portray themselves, then why lock them up. The act of these individuals is nothing less than torture..locking someone up against their will.
Hi, Passing remarks should be avoided.
MM, Please ignore him.
Ladies should plan with management in advance about their outings.
Glinda, We always choose the better option ... Thu, 07.11.2013 , 06.07 hrs ....
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Just like locking up terrorists without a trial is working in favor of them?
Some people are truly brainless.
MM - Typical of you, you're a very dangerous man. Wouldn't surprise me if you turned out to be Qatar's Josef Fritzl.
Positively, It worked in the favour of women , they remained safe ... Wed, 06.11.2013, 08.43 hrs ....
I call it the crap attitude here that treats women, especially Asian women, like children.
Yes Brits right. The real harsh reality behind the glamourus face of Dubai!
Two things:
One: Behind the glitz, the true reality of life for the lowly paid in GCC
Two: These men acting as self proclaimed guardians