Singaporean Woman Alleges Human Trafficking by Italian Man

A Singaporean woman has accused an Italian man of human trafficking, alleging she was deceived into engaging in sex work while in Dubai. The trial of Achraf Arjaouy, 31, began recently in Singapore, where he faces charges under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act for recruiting the woman for sexual exploitation.

The prosecution claims that the woman met Arjaouy on the dating app Tinder in April 2021, believing he was a wealthy individual interested in marriage. According to Deputy Public Prosecutors David Khoo, David Menon, Tay Jia En, and Ariel Tan, she agreed to travel with him to Qatar, with a stopover in Dubai, under the impression that they would marry. Upon arrival, however, she was allegedly told she needed to show US$10,000 as proof of funds to enter Qatar, a demand she could not meet.

Details of the Allegations

The court heard that Arjaouy had portrayed himself as the son of a wealthy Qatari family and a pilot for Qatar Airways, but these claims were false. Once in Dubai, he allegedly subjected the woman to a campaign of physical and psychological abuse, telling her that their relationship would end if she refused to comply with his demands.

Prosecutors described a disturbing sequence of events where Arjaouy allegedly coerced the woman into sex work to raise the necessary funds. Despite her initial reluctance, she ultimately felt she had no choice, believing it was the only way to fulfill his promise of marriage. The prosecution asserts that Arjaouy arranged the logistics of her sex work, including creating online profiles and collecting her earnings daily.

The woman reportedly stopped engaging in sex work in mid-September 2021 after contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Evidence presented in court included chat logs where she confronted Arjaouy about her condition, during which he did not deny the allegations.

Legal Proceedings and Defense

Following her return to Singapore in late November 2021, the woman’s mother lodged a police report. Arjaouy was arrested in Singapore in November 2023 for an unrelated matter. If convicted of recruiting someone by deception for sexual exploitation, he faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to S$100,000, and possible caning.

During the trial, Arjaouy took the stand to respond to questions from his legal representatives, Mr. Joel Quek and Mr. Samuel Teo of WongPartnership. He attempted to downplay the severity of the messages exchanged with the woman, claiming he did not understand her complaints about the situation in Dubai. He stated that he had not seen her from May to September 2021 and insisted that he had acted out of goodwill.

The trial, which continues to unfold, raises critical questions about the vulnerability of individuals in dating scenarios and the ease with which they can be manipulated. The case has garnered significant attention in Singapore, highlighting the ongoing issue of human trafficking and exploitation in the context of international travel and online relationships.