Men on trial in UAE after 'stoning prostitute to death'

Nine UAE residents are currently facing trial in the country after allegedly stoning an African prostitute to death.

The men, who are Asian nationals, are on trial on charges of murder, alcohol consumption, and involvement in human trafficking. 

The criminal court in Ras Al Khaimah heard the defendants' pleas on Wednesday. The men denied the accusations against them. 

The court also charged two African women with prostitution and two African men for facilitating the process, in the same case.

The women admitted to charging 50 dirhams ($13.61) per person, and the men admitted to working as "pimps," according to Khaleej Times.

An investigation into the case showed that the woman who was stoned died after getting into a heated argument with one of the Asian men over a money transaction. 

A number of Asian men approached the scene and began stoning the victim. She was rushed to an emergency room, and died one hour after being admitted to intensive care unit.

The court has postponed the case till August 29.

In 2017, a human trafficking and prostitution ring - involving a 27-year-old Bangladeshi security guard and other unknown persons - was >busted after one woman sent her brother a message via WhatsApp. 

The woman, who was identified as a Kyrgyz national, is one of two who were lured to Dubai after the security guard offered them jobs as domestic helpers, but ended up being forced into prostitution.

They were only able to escape after the police busted the ring with the help of the message one of the women was able to send to her brother in her home country, Khaleej Times reported.