Dubai: A botched home abortion landed a saleswoman in trouble after it was discovered she had had sex out of wedlock with a salesman whom she had met on Facebook.

The 33-year-old Filipina only realised was pregnant when she flew to the Philippines to attend her mother’s funeral. During her stay she told a friend she was pregnant and her friend helped her abort the foetus at her home for Dh300.

The woman returned to Dubai after 15 days but suffered severe bleeding and was rushed to hospital. Doctors told the Filipina that her friend had failed to complete the procedure properly, which had caused her to develop an infection.

On being questioned by policewomen in the hospital, the woman said that she had met the 30-year-old Pakistani salesman on Facebook and their relationship had blossomed into a love affair.

“We had sex several times in a hotel in Deira. When I learnt that I was pregnant I told my lover, who suggested that I get rid of the baby… but I refused. Then my mother passed away and I went to attend her funeral. When I told my friend what had happened, she helped me abort at her home and I paid her Dh300. I was in severe pain once I returned to Dubai and went to hospital,” the woman said.

Prosecutors accused the Filipina and Pakistani of having consensual sex.

When questioned by prosecutors, the saleswoman claimed the man had sent her an SMS saying he was leaving the UAE and would not return.

Prosecution records did not mention how and where the man was later arrested.

The 30-year-old confessed to prosecutors that he met the Filipina and chatted with her on Facebook before they exchanged contact numbers.

“We went out several times. I had protected sex with her. I did sleep with her but I had nothing to do with her pregnancy or abortion,” he told prosecutors.

When the duo appeared before the Dubai Misdemeanour Court, they confessed to having had consensual sex. Then they provided the judge with official papers confirming that they had got married (after being referred to court.)

The court found the couple guilty of having consensual sex out of wedlock and handed them a one-year suspended jail term followed by deportation.

Court sources told Gulf News that the duo have already appealed the ruling and are seeking to have their deportation order cancelled.