Two people have faced a Western Australian court after being charged with multiple human trafficking offences.
A man, 32, and a woman 38, allegedly took the passport of a 41-year-old foreign national worker at a massage business in October 2023.
They also allegedly allocated unreasonable expenses to her, holding her in an alleged debt bondage, according to the AFP.
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Investigators allege the couple falsified details on the same 41-year-old’s visa application.
The pair were first charged by the AFP in May 2024, when police alleged they kept a different foreign worker, aged 36, in a debt bondage and illegally took her passport in September 2023.
In July, the AFP laid extra charges relating to alleged falsified visa documents.
Investigators allege the couple submitted false information on multiple visa documents relating to the two women, as well as a third foreign national and four others who did not reach Australia.
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AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said police will allege the couple attempted to profit from exploiting vulnerable foreign workers and cheating immigration laws.
“Some victims may view their working conditions as preferable to those in their country of origin – even though the conditions are extremely exploitative,” Chwal said.
“All workers in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage and certain conditions.
“The AFP and partner agencies can help people who are being exploited and are focused on protecting the safety and welfare of victims.”
The couple were charged with multiple offences including causing a person to enter into a debt bondage, two counts of having control of a foreign travel document, and nine counts of delivering multiple documents containing information that is false in connection with the entry and immigration clearance of a non-citizen.
They fronted court Perth Magistrates Court yesterday.
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