‘They’ll kill you’: Melbourne doctor Seyyed Farshchi forced refugee into unpaid labour

A Melbourne doctor has sought to avoid jail after using threats of deportation and “malicious” claims to force a refugee to work in his confectionery shop, a court has been told.

Dr Seyyed Farshchi will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months behind bars. Picture: AAP

A Melbourne doctor has shown no remorse to the refugee he forced to work in his confectionery shop using threats of deportation and “malicious” claims that could get him killed in his home county, a court has heard.

Dr Seyyed Farshchi, 50, was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment in the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday after being found guilty of causing a person to remain in forced labour and conducting a business involving forced labour.

Dr Farshchi was also ordered to pay his victim almost $43,000 in unpaid wages accumulated over the term of his unfair employment at a confectionery shop in Box Hill from 2015 to 2017.

The refugee, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was applying for visa permanency in Australia when he was taken advantage of by Dr Farshchi, the court heard.

The man undertook a three-month unpaid training course at the confectionery store, sometimes working until 4am, before eventually being irregularly paid $10 an hour by Dr Farshchi, who operates a chiropractic and Chinese medicine clinic in Epping.

Dr Farshchi told his victim he was connected with immigration officials who would deport the man. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

The court heard the victim eventually learnt of Australia’s minimum wage laws and when he questioned Dr Farshchi, the threats began.

Dr Farshchi told the victim he was connected with immigration officials who would deport the man and even threatened to spread “malicious” information about his religious beliefs.

“When they deport you ... I am going to let them know that you’re a Christian convert. Over there, their sentence for apostasy is death, so they are going to kill you,” Dr Farshchi threatened.

The forced labour caused the refugee significant physical pain, sparked thoughts of suicide and fractured his relationships.

“My hope and optimism for the future was stolen from me,” the victim said in his impact statement.

Chief Judge Peter Kidd described Dr Farshchi’s threats toward the refugee as “calculated, manipulative and pernicious”.

“Your motive was a commercial one. You sought for your business to benefit off the back of the forced labour of (the victim),” Judge Kidd said.

The court heard Dr Farshchi had shown no remorse for his crime and wanted to be spared jail. His lawyers submitted Dr Farshchi was the sole provider for his family and his medical business had financially suffered since the laying of criminal charges and subsequent restrictions imposed on his chiropractor licence.

However, Judge Kidd said his offending was serious and an immediate term of imprisonment was necessary.

Dr Farshchi will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months behind bars.