Featured Image Credit: BBC
Topics: Crime, Dubai, Sex and Relationships, World News, Jobs
Olivia Burke
Women who claim to have been exploited by a degrading sex ring in Dubai have revealed how the alleged ringleader lured them in.
A bombshell BBC investigation uncovered that former London bus driver Charles Mwesigwa has been operating the service out of one of the most glamorous areas in the city in the UAE.
He was caught on camera boasting about the 'crazy stuff' the women who work for him are willing to do to satisfy clients - including participating in the infamous 'porta potty parties'.
Mwesigwa, also known as Abbey, told an undercover BBC reporter that it would cost a minimum of $1,000 (£740) to hire a woman for the night. But he warned that the 'crazier' the job description, the higher the cost.
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Mwesigwa, who is alleged to be operating the prostitution ring out of the swanky Jumeirah Village Circle neighbourhood, was filmed saying: "You have to tell me which girls you want."
"We have got like 25 girls. Many are open-minded," he laughed. "Many can do pretty much everything. It starts from at least $1,000. The girls will be happy to take $1,000 to start from.
"The more crazy stuff they do, it's up to you...If you want girl-on-girl, if you want a foursome, if you want anal, they're going to ask for more money. I've told you, they are open-minded. When I say open-minded...I will send you the craziest I have."
The shocking video then showed how Mwesigwa appeared to flick through a litany of images of women, before pausing on one and telling the journalist: "You will really, really, really, really enjoy her. This one."
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He has since denied the allegations made by the broadcaster, insisting he actually helps women who are looking to start a new life in Dubai.
"These are all false allegations," Mwesigwa said. "I told you, I am just a party person who invites big spenders on my tables, hence making many girls flock [to] my table. That makes me know many girls, and that's it."
The alleged pimp claims that he assists women who are looking to find accommodation through landlords; however, the former 'operations manager' of his network, Troy, says otherwise.
He claimed that his ex-boss is actually 'selling humans for money', telling the BBC that Mwesigwa and his goons target vulnerable women and make a host of false promises.
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They tell the women that they can help find secure legal employment for them and get them set up in the UAE, only to pull the rug from underneath them when they later arrive.
Troy and one of Mwesigwa's alleged victims, a woman using the pseudonym Mia, both said that Mwesigwa then forces these women to work off their 'debts'.
Reciting what she claims Mwesigwa told her, Mia said: "[You owe me] money for air tickets, for your visa, for where you're sleeping, food. That means you have to work hard, hard, hard, pleading for men to come and sleep [with] you."
Troy added: "If the girls said ‘I’m not ready to provide sex’, he would keep them inside the room until they agreed. Their only option was to be with Abbey."
"I've heard about types of sex that I've never seen in my life," Troy continued. "It doesn't matter what you go through as long as his rich men are happy.
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"[The women] have no escape route. They see musicians, they see footballers, they see presidents."
Troy claims he turned his back on the prostitution ring after Mwesigwa found out that he was helping the women find legal employment in Dubai.
The women who have come forward to accuse Mwesigwa of exploiting them also revealed how they were tricked into participating in the sex network. They explained that they arrived in the UAE under the pretence that he would help them gain employment in places like supermarkets or hotels.
However, they allege that they were instead forced to participate in his sex ring and perform degrading acts for men with extreme fetishes.
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When the BBC asked Mwesigwa about his line of work, he claimed that he was formerly a bus driver in East London who now does 'phone business'.
"I do mobile phones," he said. "So every month I'm in London to pick up mobile phones. In Dubai, I'm in clubs. I look at options. Like there are no black girls out in Marina. So, there could be some kind of 'market' for black girls."
Death in Dubai: #Dubaiportapotty is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC News Africa YouTube channel. The podcast World of Secrets: Death in Dubai is available wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.