BRUSSELS - Eight Emirati princesses were convicted of human trafficking by a Belgian court on Friday and were given suspended jail terms and fines in a case stemming from their treatment of servants at a Brussels luxury hotel nearly 10 years ago, their lawyer said. The case against Princess Sheikha al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family and her seven daughters was filed in 2008 when one of the servants managed to escape the hotel in Brussels and complained about degrading treatment to the local police. Defense lawyer Monod expressed his satisfaction that the case was finally resolved, Reuters reported. He said in a statement: 'Belgian justice has appropriately assessed this case which has generated many misconceptions'

The case was brought after a servant of the family slipped out of the hotel where the women stayed for several months in 2007 and 2008 and filed a report to Belgian police. The case dates back to July 2008, when Princess Shekha Alnehayan, and her seven daughters rented an entire floor of Brussels' Conrad Hotel for several months and brought more than 20 servants with them.
A Belgian court condemns a United Arab Emirates princess and her seven daughters to a fine and a suspended sentence, for human trafficking and mistreatment of their servants at a Brussels luxury hotel in 2008.