Father of 10 on trial for forcing two daughters into prostitution

The father is also accused of sexually harassing and raping the girls.

The Ras Al Khaimah criminal court has heard a case in which a father, an aged expatriate, stands trial for forcing two of his 10 daughters into prostitution.  
As per court records, the RAK public prosecution has charged the suspect with seven counts, including human trafficking since his first victim, who is 20 years old now, was younger than 18 at the time of the crime.  
He was also accused of raping her, as well as abetting, exploiting, and forcing her and her 31-year-old sister into prostitution, beating them up, and using abusive language.  
However, the defendant denied all the charges before the court. The two defence lawyers, appointed by the court due to the suspect's financial incapability, have so far asked to be relieved from representing the accused.  
The first victim told the RAK Police and then the public prosecution that her father forced her to dance in a nightclub, and have sex with random customers for money.  
She added that he used to beat and lock her up when she refused. "He sexually harassed and raped me against my will in his car close to the Saqr hospital when his wife was admitted to the hospital for delivery," she said.  
She tried to escape from the house with the help of her elder sister to approach the police, but her father caught, thrashed, and confined them. The sisters managed to call the police and report his crime, during one of their attempts to escape.  
The second victim reiterated the same charges against her father. The daughters told the prosecutors that they could not report their father's crimes earlier because they did not know anyone and he used to hit them hard whenever he sensed they were trying to seek help to flee.   
The younger daughter proved her father's crime with a voice message sent to her asking her to have sex with one of his customers.
However, the accused denied all the charges. He affirmed that there was no previous litigation between him and his two daughters. He added that he used to drop them at the night club to dance as per their wish.
He told the prosecutors that he permitted his daughter to dance at a nightclub because he was jobless and needed money to support his 10 daughters and two boys. He used to collect Dh200 to Dh300 against each of his daughters' dance.
The court, presided over by Chief Judge Sameh Shaker, has ordered the adjournment of the case to January 24 to appoint another defence lawyer, and complete the hearing sessions.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Ras Al Khaimah