A Merrylands man who deceptively convinced his wife to leave Australia and took steps to prevent her return has been jailed for a maximum term of two years and one month.
This is the third conviction for the criminal offence of exit trafficking in Australia.
The AFP investigation began in February 2018 following a report by an Afghani woman living in Australia on a partner visa. The woman, now aged 35, claimed she had been deceived by her husband into travelling to Afghanistan.
The court heard the man, an Australian citizen, asked his wife to accompany him on the false premise that he would be undertaking charity work in Afghanistan in January 2018.
The man, now aged 44, booked return flight tickets for himself from Australia to Afghanistan, however booked a one-way ticket for the woman. He also created a false itinerary under the woman's name, which he provided to her to claim they would be returning to Australia together on 13 February 2018.
The couple departed Australia for Afghanistan on 27 January 2018, with the man returning to Australia alone on 1 February, 2018.
On 2 February, 2018, the man wrote a letter to the Department of Home Affairs advising he wished to withdraw his sponsorship of the woman's visa.
The woman eventually returned to Australia on 5 February 2018 with the assistance of her relatives.
AFP officers executed a search warrant at the man's Merrylands home on 27 March 2018. He was arrested and charged at a later date.
He pleaded guilty on 13th October 2023 to one count of facilitating the exit of a person from Australia by using deception, contrary to section 271.2(1A) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The man was sentenced on 21 June, 2024, by the District Court of New South Wales to two years and one month, with a non-parole period of 12 months imprisonment.
AFP Acting Detective Sergeant Sarah Manning said exit trafficking can involve a person coercing, forcing or threatening another to leave Australia against their will.
"Exit trafficking is an insidious offence that is often underreported despite it being a criminal offence in Australia," she said.
"No one has the right to 'cancel' another person's visa, including the visa sponsor. This type of behaviour is a Commonwealth offence and carries a potential 12-year jail term.
"We commend the bravery of the victim for coming forward and trusting our officers with the investigation.
"AFP investigators in our human trafficking teams work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of all victims who come forward and seek an escape. Each case is handled with compassion and great care, and the victim's needs are always paramount."
If you suspect that you or another person is experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery or human trafficking, call 131 AFP (237) or use the AFP's confidential online form. If you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of another person, or there is an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).
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.
