Slovakian Court Hands Down Harsh Sentence for Human Trafficker

A Slovakian court has delivered a stern punishment to a 60-year-old man who was found guilty of trafficking a young woman into prostitution. The defendant was sentenced to four years’ unconditional imprisonment.

Victim’s Testimony

The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, testified that she had been coerced into prostitution by the defendant, who promised her a job and a better life. She was repeatedly forced into having sex with multiple men, including some of whom were friends of the defendant’s, in exchange for payment.

• The victim was held captive in Italy from December to May
• She was forced to have sex with up to 10 customers per day and engaged in phone sex five times a week
• She was threatened by the defendant, who told her that if she did not comply, he would leave her alone

Defendant’s Criminal History

The court heard evidence that the defendant had a history of criminal convictions, including theft and criminal damage to property. The victim’s testimony was corroborated by expert evidence, leading to the defendant being found guilty of human trafficking.

Romanian Beggar “Mafia” Exposed in Slovakia

In related news, a report by TV Markíza has uncovered a group of Romanian beggars who are exploiting disabled individuals in the Slovak Republic. The beggars are part of an organized crime syndicate that targets people with disabilities and forces them to beg on the streets for money.

Beggars’ Tactics

The report followed one particular group of beggars from Romania and revealed that some of them were only pretending to have a disability to elicit sympathy from passersby. Others, however, had real disabilities and were being exploited by the syndicate.

• Witnesses described a man who was allegedly the boss of all the professional beggars in Bratislava
• A man wearing a hat was seen supervising the beggars
• Despite denials, footage and eyewitness testimony revealed that one of these men was involved with the beggars

Regional Police Efforts

The Regional Police Directorate in Bratislava has been paying attention to this type of criminal activity for some time and has taken steps to prevent citizens and visitors from becoming victims of human trafficking.