The Dubai sex worker scandal: a verdict after ten years

After many years, the criminal case involving three individuals—Zoltán K., Vivien Sz., and Silvia P.—suspected of chain-linking, known as the “double-dealing” case, has finally come to an end. According to the prosecution, the trio recruited several women from their circle of acquaintances for so-called “hostess jobs,” not only in Hungary but also abroad, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ibiza, Orlando, Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco, among other locations. However, conflicting information regarding the nature and purpose of the work emerged, ultimately leading to legal proceedings.

The Dubai case dragged on for years

The Dubai case, which lasted for more than a decade, was decided by the Pest Central District Court on 17 February. During the trial, the names of several well-known individuals emerged as witnesses or persons involved. For instance, Pamela Hódi and Dóra Kovács gave testimonies, while Edina Kulcsár was summoned several times but did not appear at the hearings due to pregnancy.

Intercepted conversations and new details

According to intercepted phone calls presented as evidence, the defendants regularly discussed working conditions not only among themselves but also with the women they had mediated. During the trial, the name of Tímea Vajna (then Palácsik) was also mentioned in some of the intercepted conversations, although her involvement was only referenced in the telephone records.

One of the most famous Hungarian models also testified

Zita Görög told Telex in November 2023 that “dubbing exists in a very rough way.” She recounted that she was once sent to Dubai, having received the job offer from the same agency that secured her a film role in Underworld. She described having a very unpleasant experience at a Dubai hotel.

“A blonde girl appeared; she spoke Hungarian, she looked exactly like the girls in porn movies, and she told us to get ready because they were taking us to dinner,” she said, explaining that she was reluctant at first but eventually agreed to go to avoid conflict.

“They took us to a huge garden where there were dolphins spitting gold water—it was disgusting. The most shocking thing was that Something America 1 was playing on a giant screen the size of this studio. This made me wonder how many Hungarian girls had been there if this film was being shown on arrival. I had a panic attack; I started crying and screaming to be taken away because I saw girls in bikinis at sunset, carrying eggs back from the sand. If the eggs didn’t break, they received money in their underwear. It was all very disturbing. My panic attack unsettled the other girls and made the whole situation even more uncomfortable,” Görög recounted in her shocking testimony.

Andy Vajna’s widow also testified

Tímea Palácsik told investigators that the later defendant in the case initially introduced her to Hollywood producer Andy Vajna as a hostess. She stated that there was no sexual service involved, only “photography,” which entailed taking erotic nude photos.

“Zoli told me that he had a Mongolian uncle in Kazakhstan, and we had to go there for his birthday to entertain guests and enhance the party’s glamour. I didn’t know exactly how much I would earn, so I didn’t ask, but in the end, I received €1,000 for the day,” said Andy Vajna’s widow, who admitted to becoming close to one of the guests, for which she was given extra money. “At the party in Kazakhstan, there was a Mongolian man I kissed; we had a good time, and I received additional money for that,” she added in her statement.

Disputed works and the defence position

The prosecution charged the defendants with the crime of pandering, but Zoltán K. consistently denied having recruited anyone for prostitution. His defence lawyer maintained that it was merely legal hostess work. The second defendant in the Dubai case, Vivien Sz., was responsible for coordinating the women, and the defence argued that she must have known exactly what each individual was doing.

Judgement in first instance

At the end of Monday’s Dubai trial, the court delivered its verdict after a short deliberation:

• The first defendant, Zoltán K., was found guilty on multiple counts.
• He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, and was also fined 80 days (HUF 200,000) and ordered to pay HUF 412,000 in criminal costs.

Zoltán K. indicated his intention to appeal, and the Dubai trial is expected to continue at the second instance. This marks the end of the first phase of the “double jeopardy” case, but given the defendants’ stance, further legal proceedings are likely.

Plus background information

The “dubaiozó” scandal has been a subject of interest for the Hungarian press and public for years. At the heart of the controversy is the fact that, in many cases, “hostess work” involves escorting individuals to luxury hotels and exclusive resorts, sometimes accompanied by allegations of sexual services. To date, the defendants have maintained that they organised only legal employment; however, the court’s evaluation of the evidence suggests otherwise. Since the judgment is not yet final, further details may emerge in the appeal proceedings.

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