Convicted ‘male prostitute’ who used social media sparks UAE headlines
02-09-2014 10:08 PM
Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - UAE media outlets on Monday reported on an Emirati man convicted of prostitution by a Dubai court, describing him as a “sex worker who used social media to advertise his services.”
According to newspapers in Dubai in Abu Dhabi, the judge took offence when the 22-year-old-student laughed as he was sentenced to a six-month jail term.
“The judge admonished him by saying ‘just behave’ – before telling court wardens ‘take him away,’” Dubai-based 7Days newspaper reported.
The court reportedly heard how the man, who was arrested in April after being caught by police Internet patrols, “used Instagram and messaging service Kik to post naked pictures of himself and snaps of him wearing female clothes,” stated 7Days.
The report added that the student “offered to have sex with an undercover police officer posing as a client at a ‘fancy hotel in Dubai’ for a fee of Dhs1,500 ($408).”
According to Abu Dhabi-based The National, the defendant arrived at the room wearing make-up and tight-fitting trousers, while wearing women’s perfume and accessories.
In court, a 26-year-old Emirati policeman testified to this.
“He started taking off his clothes until he was only wearing underwear when the undercover policeman gave us a sign to raid the place – and we went inside and saw the suspect.
“The man was carrying a woman’s handbag. We searched what he had brought with him and found that it contained cosmetics and creams,” the officer said.
According to The National, the man posted several photos of himself in inappropriate poses, alongside captions such as, “You get this in return for money.”
The report added that forensics confirmed he had been prostituting himself, although he was “free from sexually transmitted diseases.”
The Emirati was found guilty of prostitution and posting inappropriate pictures of himself online but was acquitted of cross-dressing, The National reported.
* Al Arabiya