Two Indians, including a woman, were sentenced to 15 years in jail by a Dubai court for sexually exploiting an Indonesian housemaid.

The sentence, a firm warning to human traffickers, was imposed by the Dubai court of first instance and is the first since a federal law on human trafficking came into force in 2006.

An Indian housemaid and her friend, a driver, were caught when they tried to sell the services of the Indonesian housemaid to a police officer, who was posing as a client.

The prosecution charged the duo with exploiting the Indonesian by forcing her into prostitution.

The Indian housemaid was also charged with physically abusing the Indonesian while a Pakistani driver was charged as an accomplice, but was acquitted for lack of evidence.

The Indians will be deported after serving their terms, media reports said.

The Indonesian in her statement said that she was encouraged by her compatriot to abandon her sponsor. After which she stayed with her friend for some time before being taken away by a Bangladeshi.

She was then "sold" to some Indians in Al Ain, who in turn sold her to the couple for Dh 4,300.

"The two (Indians) pocketed the money from my customers. The woman used to beat and abuse me," she said.