Israeli who allegedly ran Cyprus sex ring indicted
Prosecution says Ashkelon resident Guy Hassid employed 25 prostitutes who were forced to have unprotected sex; threatened with violence
"Women were threatened and lived in slave-like conditions. They were forced to work everyday, without a break between customers, even during menstruation; if they asked to return home, they were charged a fine." These and other charges were part of an indictment filed Sunday in Tel Aviv District Court against Guy Hassid (39) of Ashkelon, who is charged with human trafficking, running a place of prostitution, and commission of a crime.
According to prosecutors, Hassid was the partner of Rami Saban – the "biggest pimp to ever work in Israel" – who was sentenced to a prison term of 18 years in 2012.
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The indictment said that between November, 2007 – March, 2009, Hassid, Saban and their partners rented a building in Cyprus, to which they transported women solicited to work offering sexual services. Hassid and Saban invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the business, employing 25 prostitutes from Moldavia, Uzbekistan, Russia and Ukraine.
According to the charges, the women worked under harsh, degrading conditions. They were forced to have unprotected sex. Their wages of $200 per customer were immediately handed over to Hassid or Saban.
“It was their intention to instill discipline, to make the women do as Hassid and Saban ordered, without argument,” the indictment read. “The accused used dominance, supervision and rigid discipline. He (Hassid) raised his voice, used physical violence, and threatened several of the women with injury.”
Hasid denies the accusations, claiming that Saban was the boss, and he an employee.
The prosecution requested Hassid be remanded until the end of proceedings, labeling him a flight risk. The Tel Aviv District Court said in a statement, “The Israeli Police arrested the involved parties in March. Hassid was in Cyprus and did not return to Israel.
The police issued an international warrant for Hassid and he was arrested in June, 2011 by Turkish authorities, who extradited him to Israel, where he was questioned.”
The prosecution added, “Were it not for the international warrant, Hassid would have continued to elude Israeli authorities. Due to the seriousness of the charges and the danger Hassid presents to the public, the only alternative is to ensure he remain behind lock and key, thus the court is asked to order his remand through the end of legal proceedings.”
