A young woman, who had resorted to prostitution to take care of her needs after her father, who was taking care of the family, divorced her mother, has been given five years in jail.

The Abu Dhabi Criminal of First Instance handed down the sentence to the Egyptian woman after she was found guilty of prostitution.

The court heard that the 24-year-old woman, who moved out of her mother's house to look for quick money as she fancied expensive things, was arrested from an apartment in Abu Dhabi after her friend, with whom she practiced prostitution, gave her name to police along with evidence after the former was caught in the illegal activity.

Official court documents stated that the woman's Filipino mother had separated from her Egyptian husband because of irreconcilable differences, mainly cultural and traditional.

After the separation, the man who later married another woman, allegedly stopped giving financial support to his wife and her four children.

The mother found a job at a fast food restaurant in Abu Dhabi, but couldn't get enough money to support her children.

Her eldest daughter, the defendant, was pursued by her friends who had previously had paid sex with some young men.

The mother had noticed that her daughter had started wearing expensive clothes and started living a luxurious life. Upon being questioned, the daughter allegedly replied that they were handouts from friends.

Then one day, the young woman told her mother that she had got a job at a hotel restaurant and that she wanted to earn money and help her in supporting the family.

The mother allowed her to go to work and reside in the company accommodation.

The young woman instead went to stay with her friend, with whom she was practicing prostitution.

They continued staying together and having paid sex with men until they separated and each got their own apartment.

Then one day the friend, along with other women, was caught red-handed by the police.

The friend told police during interrogation that she was practicing prostitution with the young woman and also showed them a video of her in the act.

The police went to her apartment and arrested her too.

They all denied practicing prostitution during their trial but the court convicted them based on the evidence presented by prosecutors.

The women will be deported after serving their jail sentences.

Source: Khaleej Times