Parklands' club owner Sheikh Furqan Hussain has been sentenced to three years and six months jail term for exploiting nine belly dancers from Nepal and Pakistan in 2018.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi also directed the proceeds recovered from Shaikh Furqan Hussain arising from the services rendered by the belly dancers for six months to be forfeited to the state.
While slapping the convict with an alternative fine of ksh3.5million, Andayi however acquitted the businessman on some accounts.
In his ruling, the magistrate said Hussain did not allow patrons in his Nairobi club to sexually assault the belly dancers.
The court further asserted that exploiting workers is a very serious offence.
"More exploitation of the belly dancers occur back in their mother countries where the recruiting agents receive money from the victims' employers," Andayi said.
"The girls were not being paid any salary. Money was being sent to recruiting agents in Nepal and Pakistan who would relay it to relatives of the dancers," Andayi added.
He added that Hussain protected the girls' rights by giving them descent residence and feeding them well.
"The girls who testified in court said that Hussain did not mistreat them or allow them to be abused sexually," ruled Andayi
The court however observed that confiscating the travel documents of the girls was a breach of their right to movement.
Hussain was charged with trafficking and exploiting the girls at his Bella Bella Bar in Parklands, Nairobi between February 19 and July 19, 2018.
He had been out on ksh2million cash bail.
