Darwin man faces 12 years jail for allegedly trafficking his own wife

The man allegedly trafficked his wife into India, physically abused her and stole more than $60,000 from her and her family.

Darwin man faces 12 years jail for allegedly trafficking his own wife. Picture: AFP

A Darwin man faces 12 years behind bars for allegedly trafficking his own wife into India and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her and other family members.

Australian Federal Police launched an investigation into the 28-year-old following a tip off from a member of the public in Darwin.

It’s alleged the man was physically abusive to his 27-year-old wife and threatened her into giving him her wages, access to bank accounts and money from her family totalling $60,000.

He is also accused of tricking her into flying to India in February 2019, under the assumption she was organising a visa to travel to the US.

The accused did not travel to India with her.

Authorities alleged he then provided false and misleading information to the Federal Circuit Court, where he started divorce proceedings in January.

He fronted Darwin Local Court on Friday charged with one count of exit trafficking a person, which has a maximum penalty of 12 years’ imprisonment.

“Human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices are happening here in Australia and it is up to all of us to work together to protect people who are vulnerable to these exploitative crime types,” AFP Northern Command’s Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said.

“This is a reminder that forcing someone to leave Australia using coercion, threats or deception is an offence under our laws, and Commonwealth human trafficking offences and penalties apply.”

The woman has since returned to Australia and is receiving support from the AFP and the Red Cross.

The AFP has so far received 223 reports of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like offences in 2019 and 2020.