August 10th 2024.
A couple recently appeared in a Western Australian court facing serious charges of human trafficking. The accused, a 32-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were accused of taking the passport of a 41-year-old foreign national worker back in October of 2023. It is alleged that the couple also forced the worker to bear unreasonable expenses, essentially holding her in a state of debt bondage. This information was reported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
According to investigators, the couple not only took the worker's passport, but also falsified details on her visa application. This resulted in the AFP charging them back in May of 2024. In that incident, the police had discovered that the couple had similarly mistreated another foreign worker, a 36-year-old, by keeping her in debt bondage and illegally taking her passport in September of 2023. In July, the AFP brought additional charges against the couple for submitting false information on multiple visa documents for the two women, as well as for a third foreign national and four others who never even made it to Australia.
In a statement, AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal explained that the couple had attempted to exploit vulnerable foreign workers for their own profit, while also cheating immigration laws. He added that some of the victims may have seen their working conditions as an improvement from their home country, even though they were being severely exploited. Chwal emphasized that all workers in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage and certain conditions, and that the AFP and its partner agencies are committed to helping those who are being exploited while also prioritizing the safety and welfare of the victims.
The couple was charged with various offences, such as causing a person to enter into debt bondage, two counts of having control of a foreign travel document, and nine counts of delivering false documents in connection with the entry and immigration clearance of a non-citizen. They recently appeared in Perth Magistrates Court to face these charges. This is a serious issue that highlights the need for stricter measures to prevent human trafficking and exploitation. Let us hope that justice will be served for the victims and that such heinous acts are stopped in their tracks.
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