Brothers jail term reduced in human trafficking case

Manama : Two Arab brothers implicated in a prostitution case have had their jail terms reduced on appeal. The first defendant was earlier sentenced to 10 years in prison, but his jail term was reduced to seven years instead. The other man was given three years in jail instead of five.

They were charged with trafficking six women from Columbia and Dominica. The six victims were reportedly held captive by the two defendants, aged 36 and 41, in furnished apartments, where they forced them to have sex with strangers in return of money. Their crime came to light after one of the victims broke out of captivity and reached a police station.

The victims, aged between 19 and 26, are said to have been compelled to have sex with strangers for amounts ranging between BD30 and BD50.