Case Law Database

Trafficking in persons

Court of Appeals of Antwerp 20-05-2010

Fact Summary

The defendant took the victim away from her family in Morocco with the pretext of marrying her in Belgium. The defendant also paid a sum to the victim’s family which they interpreted to be the dowry.

Upon arrival in Belgium, the victim was forced to engage in sexual intercourse with the defendant, to work at the defendant’s house and to serve him and his mother. The victim was also physically abused by the defendant.

When the defendant ‘got tired’ of the victim he threw her out on the street. With no resources, the victim was unable to go back to her family in Morocco.

Sentence Date:
2010-05-20
Author:
White & Case LLP

This work was developed through a partnership with UNODC, Lawyers Without Borders and White & Case LLP

Keywords

Trafficking in Persons Protocol:
Article 3, Trafficking in Persons Protocol
Article 5, Trafficking in Persons Protocol
Acts:
Recruitment
Transportation
Receipt
Means:
Deception
Abuse of power or a position of vulnerability
Giving or receiving payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person
Purpose of Exploitation:
Exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation
Servitude
Form of Trafficking:
Transnational
Sector in which exploitation takes place:
Domestic servitude
Other sectors

Cross-Cutting Issues

Gender Equality Considerations

Details

• Female principal offender

Procedural Information

Legal System:
Civil Law
Latest Court Ruling:
Appellate Court
Type of Proceeding:
Criminal
 

Victims / Plaintiffs in the first instance

Victim:
E.B.K.
Gender:
Child
Nationality:
Moroccan

Defendants / Respondents in the first instance

Number of other accused:
2
Defendant:
Q.
Gender:
Male
Legal Reasoning:

With respect to the claim of human trafficking, the Court found that the defendant had taken advantage of the victim’s vulnerable position, since she was staying illegally in the country and she was a minor. The Court also relied on the reports of a psychologist and a forensic psychiatrist in order to come to these conclusions. The fact that the defendant hit the victim and lied to her and her family about his intentions to marry the victim, was also considered to be an aggravated circumstance. The victim’s testimony where she stated that she was not forced to work, but simply did it out of boredom, did not alter the findings of the Court. Finally, the defendant’s argument that the victim’s mother had agreed to him taking the victim to Belgium, and that the victim’s sister and her husband had passively cooperated, was considered void by the Court, since these actors were deceived by the defendant.

Regarding the second charge of engaging in sexual relations with a minor, the Court found these allegations to be proven based on the statements made by the victim. The lack of a DNA-investigation was not considered relevant in that sense.

When determining the appropriate sentence for the defendant, the Court took into account the fact that the defendant is a lawyer, and considered that he had seriously breached the oath he took as a lawyer. 

Defendant:
G.R.
Gender:
Female

Defendant G.R. was defendant Q.'s mother.

Charges / Claims / Decisions

Defendant:
Q.
Charge details:
Human Trafficking
Verdict:
Guilty
Charge details:
Engaging in Sexual Relations with a Minor
Verdict:
Guilty
Term of Imprisonment:
8 years
Fine / Payment to State:
Yes  4950  EUR  (Up to 10,000 USD)
Defendant:
G.R.

Court

Court of Appeals of Antwerp