A Colombian national residing in South Australia has appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today (19 December, 2024), after being charged by the AFP over alleged human exploitation offences.
The woman, 35, was arrested at her Kilburn home yesterday (Wednesday, 18 December, 2024).
AFP members executed a search warrant at the property on 14 November, 2024, and arrested a man, also a Colombian national residing at the same home, and charged him with debt bondage and servitude offences.
The man appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 15 November, 2024 and was also remanded to reappear at the same court today (19 December, 2024).
It will be alleged in court that the woman was involved in the ongoing and degrading treatment of other residents also living at the property. This alleged treatment included maintaining daily control of the victims by tracking their movements, restricting daily activities, scheduling compulsory daily chores, controlling earnings and forcing victims to pay off debts that were unreasonably enforced.
These allegations relate to a number of individuals who migrated to Adelaide from Venezuela in 2015 and 2016, with the offences allegedly taking place over a prolonged period at the Kilburn home and elsewhere in Australia.
The woman was charged with:
- One count of remaining in servitude contrary to section 270.5(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years' imprisonment.
- One count of intending to cause a victim to enter into debt bondage, contrary to section 270.7C of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years' imprisonment.
She was granted bail with strict conditions. Both are expected to reappear in court at a later date.
AFP Detective Superintendent Melinda Adam said the AFP was committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of alleged victims of human trafficking.
"The AFP will not hesitate to lay charges where there is evidence of alleged deprived and abhorrent offending," Det Supt Adam said.
"Servitude practices, including debt bondage, occur when people are subjected to conditions to which they had not agreed.
"Victims of human trafficking can be significantly deprived of personal freedom in all aspects of their life, and threats, coercion or deception are often used against them.
"In some instances, those being exploited may not come forward about their situation out of fear of retribution by perpetrators, social isolation or financial dependence of others.
"The AFP urges people to be aware of the indicators of slavery-like practices and report anything that may seem suspicious."
If you suspect that you or another person is being exploited or is at risk of being exploited, help is available. Call 131 AFP (237) or report via the AFP website.
If you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of another person, or there is an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).
If you or someone you know is exploited at work in Australia, visit the Work Right Hub for more information and support.
The Support for Trafficked People Program is a key component of Australia's response to support victims of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, and is delivered nationally by the Australian Red Cross. For information and confidential advice please contact the Australian Red Cross on 1800 113 015 or visit the Red Cross website.
As part of the AFP's commitment to combatting human trafficking and slavery offences in Australia, the AFP is using technology as a tool to counter these crimes and has developed a training and awareness program, entitled "Look-a-Little-Deeper" to help state and territory police and other Commonwealth agencies recognise signs of human trafficking and slavery-type offences in the community.
The below can be indicators of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, which are comprehensively criminalised under Divisions 270 and 271 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth):
- Employer or manager being unable to show records of wages paid to workers.
- No access to earnings or savings.
- Workers live in places unsuitable for living, such as in agricultural or industrial buildings or in overcrowded or unsafe accommodation.
- No labour contract.
- Forced to work excessively long hours.
- No choice of accommodation.
- Never leave work premises without being escorted by their employer.
- Unable to move freely.
- Disciplined through fines.
- Subjected to insults, abuse, threats or violence.
- Employer doesn't provide basic training.
- Information is provided in languages other than the local language around the workplace.
- No health and safety notices.
- Employer or manager being unable to show the documents required for employing workers from other countries.
- Health and safety equipment being of poor quality or missing.
- Work equipment being designed or modified so that it can be operated by children.
- Evidence that labour laws are being breached.
- Evidence that workers must pay for tools or that costs for food or accommodation are being unlawfully deducted from their wages.
