Lapua human trafficking case goes to appeals court – all parties appeal judgment
South Ostrobothnia District Court dismissed human trafficking charges but convicted a couple of aggravated deprivation of liberty and exploitation. The prosecutor, victim and convicted woman have all appealed to Vaasa Court of Appeal.
Couple from Lapua to have human trafficking conviction reviewed by appeals court
Yle News reported that a suspected human trafficking case that occurred in Lapua last winter is proceeding to Vaasa Court of Appeal – all parties are dissatisfied with the judgment from South Ostrobothnia District Court and have appealed it.
A man and woman were charged with offences against approximately a 60-year-old man from Lapua. According to the district court, the couple exploited the victim's alcohol dependency and held him under their control for more than a month between Christmas and early February. The victim surrendered his mobile phone and bank card to the couple, his freedom of movement was restricted, and he was forced to borrow money from several people. The court found that the couple's motives were purely financial.
The district court dismissed the human trafficking charges but convicted the couple of aggravated deprivation of liberty, aggravated exploitation, fraud and aggravated extortion. The woman received a sentence of one year and 11 months in prison, the man one year and nine months. The sentences also include some offences unrelated to the victim's situation, mainly petty theft.
The prosecutor is demanding that the appeals court convict both of aggravated human trafficking and impose harsher sentences. According to regional prosecutor Esa Luomala, the elements of human trafficking are satisfied: the victim had no opportunity for free movement, communication or use of his own funds. Additionally, he was used as an agent in a fake drug deal, which seriously endangered his safety. The prosecutor is also demanding that the defendants be remanded in custody if the sentence is increased to at least two years in prison.
The victim himself is also calling on the appeals court to impose a tougher sentence. In his appeal, he demands a conviction for human trafficking for both perpetrators and sentences increased to at least four years in prison. He is seeking compensation for pain and suffering of €9,000 for aggravated deprivation of liberty, exploitation and fraud – the district court ordered the couple to pay just over €5,500 in damages jointly and severally. According to the appeal, the district court interprets conditions that violate human dignity too narrowly, as the victim was in fact unable to control his property, communication or movement.
The convicted woman, for her part, is asking the appeals court to overturn the convictions for deprivation of liberty, exploitation, fraud, assault and extortion entirely and to convert her sentence to a suspended sentence.
Source: Yle Uutiset