Six people accused of human trafficking and exploiting women

SIX people are to stand trial accused of human trafficking charges. The group are said to have exploited a number of women mainly for prostitution at different addresses in Glasgow.

Jagpal Singh, 52, Donglin Zhang, 48, Vlassis Ntaoulias, 32, Jian Guang Yang, 61, Boonsong Wanas, 62, and Chunmei Zhang, 38, all deny the accusations that they face.

Prosecutors first claim Singh and Donglin Zhang were in contact with a woman in China, offered her work in the UK before collecting her at Edinburgh Airport.

It is said she was then kept at a flat In Glasgow’s Albion Street and had her passport taken from her.

The woman is said to have been exploited and made a victim of “forced labour”.

A separate charge then includes a claim the duo arranged for men to have sex with her for money.

Singh alone face a further charge of similar conduct with a second woman.

It is further alleged that he also raped her at the Albion Street flat.

Wannas meantime is then accused of helping to organise a third woman to travel from England to Scotland having offered “work”.

It is alleged he and others unknown did “harbor” her at flats in the city’s Anniesland and Gallowgate.

This is said to have been done to exercise “control or influence” over prostitution.

Wannas is then accused of exploiting a fourth woman by getting her to travel to the UK and then making her have sex with other men.

Ntaloulias, Yang and Chumei Zhang are all accused of “aiding, abetting or compelling” prostitution.

Prosecutors further allege Ntaloulias, Singh, Wannas, and Donglin Zhang were involved in the running of a brothel at different addresses in the city.

The 12 charges span between August 2018 and February 2020.

Lawyers for the six pleaded not guilty on their behalf as the group all appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today.

Lord Beckett continued the case until a trial set down for August.

The six, all from Glasgow, remain on bail meantime.