UNI

Dubai, Mar 26: An elderly Indian couple pleaded not guilty to charges of human trafficking and forging passports in a Dubai court.

The Indian pair identified as AK, (60) and his wife MA (55), were arrested on December 24 last year after they were intercepted on their way to Paris with two young children.

It was alleged that two boys, hailing from a village close to the couple's home town, were to be put to work in the French capital, and the couple was paid Dhs 66,504 (Rs 800,000) to carry out the operation, the court heard.

AK denied these charges in the court yesterday and said he would bring the necessary evidence to prove so.

The trial has been adjourned till next month to record the children's testimony.

In his police statement, AK said the money was kept for his daughter's marriage and a friend, who initially refused to lend him Rs 500,000, promised to provide the money if he agreed to escort the boys to their uncle in France.

The friend paid him Rs 400,000 as advance payment and he was scheduled to collect the balance when he returned to India, he claimed.