Prison sentences for women trafficking and new arrest in northern Beirut suburbia

Following the uncovering of the most dangerous human trafficking network in Maamelteyn, north of Beirut, (visit: http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/14941), the investigative judge of Mount Lebanon, Peter Germanos, issued his accusative verdict in the above human trafficking case. The judge announced that the defendants’ act in partaking in the exploitation of young women in prostitution activities is considered a felony according to Article 586 of the Law No. 164/2011 related to human trafficking which is punishable with five years of imprisonment and a relatively high fine. Germanos added that the act of abortion practiced by the doctor and his aide nurse on some of the women involved is also considered a felony punishable by 4 to 7 years in jail. The judge based his decision on the judicial warrant which stipulated conducting a broad survey of suspect night clubs on the Kesrwan coast, and which ended with the closure of some 13 illegal venues indefinitely. On the same subject, the Syrian Human Rights Network appealed to the UNHCR to ensure the protection of some 45 young Syrian girls living in Lebanon and who have been systematically raped and their bodies sold by the above mafia between the end of 2013 up till last month. Meanwhile, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces announced it has raided 18 video-poker shops in the areas of Dbayeh, Jounyeh, Antelias and Borj Hamoud for using girls who work there in prostitution acts outside the shop. Likewise, the Office for Combating Human Trafficking at the Judicial Police Unit, arrested persons from different nationalities on the charge of facilitating and practicing prostitution and drug dealing inside the hospital of Peter and Paul in Sad al Boucherieh, east of Beirut. (Al Hayat, Al Diyar, An Nahar, April 18 and 20, 2016)