Italian national convicted of human trafficking after deceiving Singaporean woman into Dubai sex work

A court has found an Italian man guilty of human trafficking after he manipulated a Singaporean woman into sexual exploitation in Dubai through an elaborate online deception scheme.

Achraf Arjaouy, aged 31, was convicted on charges of recruiting an individual through fraudulent means for purposes of sexual exploitation in the Gulf emirate. The defendant had contested the charges in court proceedings, though the judge dismissed his arguments challenging the victim's credibility. The victim's identity remains confidential under court protection orders.

The Deception Scheme

According to prosecutors, Arjaouy orchestrated an elaborate con targeting a woman he encountered through the dating application Tinder. He misrepresented himself as a prosperous aviation pilot based in Qatar who sought marriage.

The defendant allegedly instructed the woman, who was between 30 and 31 years old at that time, to demonstrate possession of US$10,000 as a financial requirement for relocating to Qatar. When she lacked the necessary funds, Arjaouy reportedly directed her to generate income through sex work in Dubai, claiming this would enable her to meet his financial prerequisites.

Exploitation and Coercion

Throughout her involvement in sex work, Arjaouy consistently collected the woman's daily earnings. The exploitation continued until mid-September 2021, when the victim contracted a sexually transmitted disease and ceased the activities.

Although the prospect of engaging in sex work deeply troubled the woman, she ultimately complied, believing it represented her sole pathway to marriage in Qatar. She returned to Singapore several months after halting her involvement in sexual services.