The National, UAE
May 17 2009
UAE chasing clues from trafficking trial
Loveday Morris
Last Updated: May 16. 2009 11:51PM UAE / May 16. 2009 7:51PM GMT ABU
DHABI // UAE authorities have vowed to follow up any leads that came
to light during the trial of three sisters convicted in Armenia of
sending hundreds of women to Dubai to work in the sex trade.
Anoush Martirosyan, 40, led the trafficking ring that for years lured
Armenian women to the Emirates, often with the promise of tax-free
jobs as waitresses and nannies, before forcing them to work as
prostitutes. She was sentenced to 13 years in prison on April 20. Her
sisters Sofya Martirosyan and Sonya Gabrielyan were given five- and
one-year terms, respectively.
But more members of the ring, including a sinister figure in Dubai
referred to by the girls as `Ponytail Ali’, were mentioned frequently
during testimony.
Dr Saeed al Ghufli, rapporteur for the UAE National Committee to
Combat Human Trafficking, said authorities would investigate any
information from Armenian authorities.
`Of course if any names are given in evidence and are passed on to the
UAE, the authorities will try to follow up that information and
investigate,’ he said, adding that he welcomed the conviction.
Lt Col Abdul Raheem bin Shafee, head of the organised crime division
of the Dubai Police, said authorities were doing everything they could
to fight human trafficking. But he declined to comment directly on the
details of the Armenian case.