NASSAU – The trial of an alleged pimp accused of forcing two women into prostitution began in The Bahamas Supreme Court this week.
The defendant, Chevaneese Sasha Gaye Hall, was the first person to be charged for trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution in the country’s history.
Hall, a Jamaican, has denied the allegations at her trial before Justice Jon Isaacs.
Prosecutors allege that Hall tricked the women into coming to The Bahamas by promising to get them legitimate jobs.
Instead, they said she withheld their passports, forced them into prostitution and kept the money they earned from selling their bodies for living expenses.
According to one of the alleged victims, she met Hall in St Catherine, Jamaica in December 2012. She said Hall promised her a job as a bartender in The Bahamas.
The witness said she and another woman travelled to New Providence, the most
populous island in The Bahamas, with Hall in January 2013.
After clearing immigration, they took another flight to Freeport in northwest Bahamas, which was piloted by Hall’s friend, Sam, the witness said.
The woman said they went to an apartment and Sam demanded their passports.
That’s when they learned that they would have to sell their bodies and part of their earnings would go toward their room and board and a reimbursement for their airline tickets.
The woman claimed Hall took photographs of them in skimpy attire to show to clients. The woman said she had repeat customers who often paid her $70 for each session. She recalled an occasion where she slept with three clients back-to-back.
The woman said she felt “deceived, stupid and cheap”. (Nassau Guardian)
