State given time to file ammended charges

The State prosecution has been given time to file amended charges in the case of two sisters facing charges of human trafficking.

Seta Sanjana Ram and Geeta Anjana Chandar are jointly charged with 17 counts of trafficking in persons, 16 counts of obtaining property by deception and two counts of money laundering.

Ram appeared before Judge Justice

Aruna Aluthge at the High Court in

Suva on Monday while her co-accused Chandar is currently in Australia.

The two are alleged to have facilitated the travel of 17 Fijian citizens who were exploited and became victims of human trafficking in New Zealand between April and September 2014 and obtained $52,142 from the 17 complainants by deception.

It is also alleged that Chandar between September 2016 and March 2017, disposed of $79,991.40 into a Bank South Pacific account and between February and May 2014, Ram allegedly disposed of $2525 into two Australia and New

Zealand bank accounts that were the proceeds of crime.

State prosecutor Swastika Sharma told the court that Chandra was charged in absentia and that she lived in Australia.

She said the State was proposing to amend the information as there were a lot of documents in the case.

Justice Aluthge has given time to the State to file the amended information. The matter has been adjourned to July 31 for mention.

Bail for Ram has been further extended.