Woman Faces Human Trafficking Charges
The 31-year-old Fiji national allegedly involved in a human trafficking case in New Zealand will appear in court today
The 31-year-old Fiji national allegedly involved in a human trafficking case in New Zealand has been charged and is expected to be produced in court today. The accused has been charged with 11 counts of obtaining property by deception and one count of money laundering.
The Fijian national’s sister has been charged in absentia with five counts of obtaining property by deception and one count of money laundering.
Both have been jointly charged with 17 counts for Trafficking in Person: Contrary to Section 112(4) of Crimes Act 2009.
A joint investigation was conducted between the Fiji Police Force, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Immigration.
The two were alleged to have facilitated the travel of 17 Fijian citizens who were exploited through slavery and became victims of human trafficking in New Zealand, between April and August 2014.
The two had been operating a travel agent business from Nina Street, Suva, and are alleged to have placed an advertisement about employment opportunities in New Zealand. The victims were allegedly advised to provide necessary documents for application of NZ visa and were promised work visas or tourist visas with work permits and had obtained money from victims just for visa applications. The victims were allegedly exploited in NZ and the suspects allegedly organised and facilitated the exit of these victims from Fiji and in facilitating the exit were reckless as to whether the said victims would be exploited. The victims were allegedly exploited through forced labour to work in unfavourable weather conditions, with little or no wages, unacceptable living (accommodation) conditions because male and female victims had to share one room.
It is alleged that the suspects being notified of these conditions did not take any action, but continued to send more victims to NZ. Both suspects allegedly remitted and received more than $83,000 to and from NZ through an accomplice Faroz Ali, who was convicted in NZ for human trafficking offences with an imprisonment sentence of nine years and six months.
The 31-year-old will be produced at the Suva Magistrates Court today and an arrest warrant will be filed for her sister, who currently resides in Australia.