It’s is the third conviction for the criminal offence of exit trafficking in Australia.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have commended the bravery of the victim for coming forward and trusting officers with the investigation.
The AFP investigation began more than five years ago following a report by the Afghan 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 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 February 13, 2018.
They departed Australia for Afghanistan on January 27, 2018, with the man returning to Australia alone on February 1, 2018.
The following day, the man wrote a letter to the Department of Home Affairs advising he wished to withdraw his sponsorship of the woman’s visa.
However, with assistance from her relatives, the woman returned to Australia a few days later.
The following month police raided the man’s Merrylands home and he was arrested and charged.
He was sentenced to two years and one month imprisonment, with 12 months to be served in custody before release on a two-year good behaviour order.
AFP Detective Acting Sergeant Sarah Manning said exit trafficking could 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”
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.
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Jailed over cancelling
wife’s Australia return
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