A Chinese national and a woman running a massage parlour in a Western Australian mining town have been accused of exploiting foreign workers.
Yuteng Zhang, 32, and Jess Fang Ching Ting, 37, allegedly mistreated a 36-year-old woman after she arrived in Australia in September last year by confiscating her passport, underpaying her and forcing her to pay off excessive debts.
The pair are also accused of submitting false information on multiple visa documents relating to the woman and another six foreign workers, according to the Australian Federal Police.
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Zhang and Ting appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday charged with nine counts each of presenting a forged or false document.
They are also charged with one count each of improper use or possession of a foreign travel document, offences relating to visa permits and intentionally engaging in conduct that caused another person to enter into debt bondage.
The court heard two complainants named Belinda and Daisy were in an AFP protection program that provided accommodation and support for 90 days.
It allows the “informant” time to decide whether they will assist the AFP with its investigation, the Commonwealth’s lawyer said.
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Ting’s lawyer indicated she would fight the charges.
Both accuseds’ legal teams asked the court to vary Zhang and Ting’s bail conditions to allow them or their lawyers to speak to the women for a defence statement.
Zhang’s lawyer said he feared the woman would be returned to her country of origin if she declined to co-operate with the AFP investigators and that could make it difficult to contact her. Magistrate Thomas Hall declined the request.
AFP Human Trafficking Team acting Sergeant Kevin Loermans alleged the couple repeatedly provided fraudulent information on visa applications to try to subvert immigration laws.
“We allege they aimed to profit from exploiting vulnerable foreign workers who may be unwilling to complain because they have fewer support networks and less understanding of workers’ rights in Australia or the help available to protect them,” Sgt Loermans said.
One of the other workers, now 38, worked at the couple’s massage business in Kalgoorlie in early 2023 for three months.
The AFP has previously said the 36-year-old woman, a trained masseuse, came to Australia after answering an advertisement in the Philippines for massage therapists to work at the couple’s business.
Zhang and Ting arranged a tourist visa rather than a work visa for her by submitting false details on the documents.
She was asked to hand over her passport when she arrived at Perth airport before starting work later in the week.
The pair also allegedly told the woman she would be billed for consumables such as massage oils and equipment at the business.
She was allegedly not given official pay slips, was advised not to socialise in the local community and lived at the business.
It’s also alleged that when the woman complained to her employers about her pay and conditions Zhang refused to return her passport.
The matter was adjourned to August 9 and bail was extended for Zhang and Ting.
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