Women held and sexually assaulted, court told

DUBAI // Four Chinese men were charged yesterday with kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women after allegedly blindfolding them and holding them for ransom. ST, 30, WT, 29, SSH, 22, and TL, 21, allegedly took the two Chinese women, who provide massage services at home, in Naif on September 24, and held them for a ransom of Dh100,000 (US27,000). A fifth man, who has not been found, is also suspected of involvement in the alleged kidnapping, according to prosecution records.

One suspect was said to have called a victim, WY, 24, and arranged to meet her at a mosque. She was joined by another woman, FT, 28. The women were picked up by two men in a silver car, who were joined by two others. "As soon as the two other men entered the car, they started attacking us and blindfolded us," said WY, according to prosecution records. They were allegedly taken to a villa in Ajman and told that they would be released for Dh100,000.

FT was let go after she convinced her kidnappers that she could get them Dh25,000 if she were freed. The suspects were arrested after FT went to police who found ST on September 26. The case was adjourned until February 7. [e-mail]