A West Australian couple is set to appear before Perth Magistrates Court today, 14 June 2024, following charges of debt bondage, falsifying visa documents, and passport offences uncovered during an investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) into human trafficking.
The AFP alleges that a 32-year-old man and his 37-year-old partner, residents of Ocean Reef, engaged in illegal practices involving a foreign national who arrived in Australia in late 2023 to work at their regional WA massage business.
According to authorities, the couple provided false information on visa applications, initially arranging a tourist visa rather than a work visa for the 36-year-old woman from the Philippines, who had been recruited as a masseuse.
Upon her arrival at Perth airport in September 2023, the AFP claims the couple confiscated the woman’s passport and proceeded to underpay her while imposing excessive debts allegedly related to visa costs and business expenses. The woman, reportedly coerced into complying with their demands, was purportedly not provided with proper pay slips, instructed against socialising locally, and forced to reside at the business premises.
Further allegations suggest that when the woman attempted to secure a student visa for language studies, the couple orchestrated a deceptive scheme involving falsified financial documents and manipulative cash transactions to meet visa requirements. The AFP asserts that the couple subsequently claimed additional fees from the woman, including costs for educational expenses and business equipment.
According to acting Sergeant Kevin Loermans from the AFP’s Human Trafficking Team, such exploitative practices constitute debt bondage and highlight the vulnerability of individuals coerced into working under duress. He emphasised the seriousness of these offences under Australian law, stressing that all workers are entitled to fair treatment and that retaining someone’s passport without consent is illegal.
“Criminals can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars profiting off vulnerable individuals who may feel unwilling or unable to report exploitative conditions out of fear of retribution by perpetrators, social isolation and financial dependence on offenders,” a/Sgt Loermans added.
The couple, identified as a Chinese national aged 32 and his 37-year-old partner, have each been charged with multiple offences, including conducting activities leading to debt bondage, illegal possession of a foreign travel document, and submitting false information on visa applications under the Migration Act 1958.
As the case unfolds, the AFP continues to underscore its commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of victims of human trafficking, urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to exploitation.
The court proceedings today are expected to shed further light on the alleged abuses and determine the course of legal action against the accused couple.
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