The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday, upheld the conviction and 18-year jail term of Nigerian national, Chinedu Justice Obasi, who was found guilty of human trafficking and entering into a fraudulent marriage to secure residency.
According to Independent News Eswatini, Obasi was convicted in December 2017 on three counts and handed his sentence in September 2018.
The charges included two counts of harbouring women for exploitation and one count of fraudulent marriage.
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Court records seen by the news platform showed that between April and September 2016, Obasi harboured two women, identified as Busisiwe and Puleng, at a flat in Pretoria, where he allegedly forced them into prostitution.
He was said to have taken their earnings, supplied them with drugs, and restricted their movements, monitoring them constantly to prevent escape.
The fraudulent marriage charge dated back to 2005, when Obasi married a South African woman but failed to live with her, with the court ruling that the union was contracted solely to obtain legal residency.
According to the case file, Busisiwe met Obasi in December 2015, while Puleng was introduced to him through Busisiwe in May 2016. Both women eventually ended up under the control of Obasi and his co-accused, who continued their exploitation.
On appeal, Obasi argued that the trial court overlooked his personal circumstances and failed to properly consider evidence.
However, the presiding Judge Graham Moshoana dismissed the claims, stressing that Obasi never testified in his defence.
Judge Moshoana described the case as a clear instance of modern-day slavery.
He said, “Human trafficking exists because people are vulnerable to exploitation due to poverty, lack of education and desperation.
“Victims are often abused, confused and disoriented. People are trafficked for sex, labour and other related reasons.”
With the ruling, Obasi will continue to serve his 18-year prison term.
