Two Filipina women and a Pakistani man went on trial at the Dubai Court of First Instance for allegedly hiding the body of a newborn baby.

According to public prosecution records, one of the women, aged 35, had illicit sexual relations with unidentified men and later disposed of her illegitimate baby with the help of a 50-year-old compatriot. The male defendant, 38, dumped the body in the garbage.

The two women are accused of overstaying their visas.

All the three defendants are charged with failing to report a crime to the competent authorities.

The mother pleaded not guilty to the charge of hiding the body when she appeared in court, claiming she passed out after the baby was born.

The incident took place on June 18 and was reported at Bur Dubai police station.

The co-defendants were apprehended on June 23.

A policeman, who interrogated the defendants, said: "She got the help of two women in giving birth in her room in Al Satwa. Her accomplices helped her get rid of what they claimed to be a stillborn baby, by throwing it in the rubbish."

The other woman admitted to the police she cleaned the body and then gave it to the man to dispose of it. The man confessed to the police that he got the body from the second woman. He put it in a bag with clothes. He took it to Deira where he threw it in a large bin.

During the public prosecution investigation, the main defendant confessed to the crime. Records also did not mention whether it was a baby boy or girl.

All the three accused have been placed in detention. The trial will continue on December 5.

SOURCE : KHALEEJTIMES