Sex slavery and forced labor: couple found in court

The Public Prosecutor demanded a prison sentence for a 32 year old man and 26 year old woman from Doetinchem in the court in Arnhem today. The two suspects are suspected of human trafficking. The suspects brought two victims, a man and a woman, from Romania to the Netherlands under false pretenses. The victims were forced to sell newspapers on the street and the woman was forced into prostitution. The Public prosecutor demands a 36 month prison sentence against the male suspect, and a 30 month prison sentence against the female suspect. The victims were taken from Romania to pay off an old debt to relatives of the male victim. The female victim came to the Netherlands in late March, the man followed in June. In the Netherlands, the pair had to live in the suspects' bare attic, for which they also had to pay rent. They had to pay off the old debt with their earnings, while new charges were being added all the time. The female victim was also forced into prostitution for three weeks. The two victims approached a fireman and a motorcycle cop on the street with their plight in July. In their first statement on the street, both victims spoke of kidnapping, threats and abuse. The two suspects were arrested immediately. "The suspects monitored their victims and through their actions regarding the withholding of food, curtailing their freedom and humiliation, made themselves guilty of a gross violation of human dignity and physical and mental integrity", said the prosecutor in the indictment. "The suspects must be made clear that this is not providing assistance, but modern slavery" The 32 year old man had previously been convicted for domestic violence against the 26 year old suspect. According to the prosecutor, there is no reason to think that the male suspect forced the female suspect to take part in these crimes. The court Gelderland in Arnhem will give a verdict in two weeks.