A police investigation revealed a criminal organization involved in the internal and international trafficking in person for the purpose of sexual exploitation since June 2006.
The leader of this group was a woman called J.A.O., who possessed a database of photos from different women either nude or wearing only underwear. This database consisted of photos sent by different recruiters, and was used to show clients girls available for sexual activities. Whenever a person requested the organization’s services, they would receive an e-mail with a password giving access to the women’s photographs. According to the investigation, J.A.O. got several phone calls each day from Brazilians and foreigners requesting prostitutes in Brazil and abroad.
In their deposition, the defendants stated that they did not have a commitment with each other, only a relationship based on trust and empathy. However, it was proven that each recruiter had their own network of prostitutes and clients, and could rely on the others’ women to attend their clients’ need. Whenever a client demanded a prostitute, the recruiter could send him girls from “his network” as well as girls recruited by other members of the organization. Afterwards, the victim and the recruiter made a financial agreement on how they would split the splits, which was usually made in the ratio of 50% for each.
The organization ran a criminal operation in international trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation and M.J.S.B. was J.A.O.’s person of trust in Europe. She lived in Portugal and managed the victims across that continent. An intercepted phone call made between the respondents revealed that they were discussing J.A.O.’s intention of sending some women to Arabic Countries once the Ramadan would be finished.
Brazil1st Instance:
Court: Justiça Federal – Seção Judiciária de São Paulo – 7ª Vara Criminal de São Paulo (Federal Justice - Judiciary Section of São Paulo)
São Paulo/SP
2009-03-10
Reference: 2007.61.81.011168-4/SP
2nd Instance:
Court: Tribunal Regional Federal da 3ª Região (Regional Federal Court).
São Paulo/SP
2009-06-23
Reference: 2009.03.00.014160-5/SP
The defendant M.J.S.B. filed a motion for preliminary injunction in which she aimed the barring of the criminal suit against her, for considering the complaint inept/inappropriate.
The respondent claimed that there was not enough proof to demonstrate that she was involved with the criminal organization. The defendant asserted that her alleged criminal acts were not properly described in the complaint, which made her defence impossible, since the Court did not know what arguments to refute.
Nevertheless, the first instance judge considered the complaint good enough to pursue a criminal suit.
Penal Code, article 288
Quadrilha ou bando
Art. 288 - Associarem-se mais de três pessoas, em quadrilha ou bando, para o fim de cometer crimes:
Pena - reclusão, de um a três anos.
Parágrafo único - A pena aplica-se em dobro, se a quadrilha ou bando é armado.
Cuadrilha or gang
Art. 288 – The joint of more than three people, in cuadrilha or gang, for the purpose of committing crimes:
Penalty: imprisonment one to three years.
Single Paragraph - The penalty increases twice, if the cuadrilha or gang is armed.
[unofficial translation]
Penal Code, article 230
Rufianismo
Art. 230 - Tirar proveito da prostituição alheia, participando diretamente de seus lucros ou fazendo-se sustentar, no todo ou em parte, por quem a exerça:
Pena - reclusão, de um a quatro anos, e multa.
§ 1o Se a vítima é menor de 18 (dezoito) e maior de 14 (catorze) anos ou se o crime é cometido por ascendente, padrasto, madrasta, irmão, enteado, cônjuge, companheiro, tutor ou curador, preceptor ou empregador da vítima, ou por quem assumiu, por lei ou outra forma, obrigação de cuidado, proteção ou vigilância:
Pena - reclusão, de 3 (três) a 6 (seis) anos, e multa.
§ 2o Se o crime é cometido mediante violência, grave ameaça, fraude ou outro meio que impeça ou dificulte a livre manifestação da vontade da vítima:
Pena - reclusão, de 2 (dois) a 8 (oito) anos, sem prejuízo da pena correspondente à violência.
Ruffianism
Art. 230 – To take advantage from the prostitution of another person, participating directly of its profits or living, in whole or in part, by the income of the prostituted person:
Penalty - imprisonment from one to four years, and fine.
§ 1 If the victim is a minor of 18 (eighteen) and greater than 14 (fourteen) years or if the crime is committed by ascending, stepfather, stepmother, brother, stepson, their spouse, partner, tutor or curator, preceptor or employer of the victim, or by whom assumed, by law or otherwise, obligation to care, protect or surveillance:
Penalty: imprisonment, three (3) to six (6) years, and fine.
§ 2 If the crime is committed with violence, threat, fraud or other means that prevent or impede the free expression of the will of the victim:
Penalty - imprisonment from 2 (two) to 8 (eight) years, without prejudice to the penalty corresponding to the violence.
[unofficial translation]
Penal Code, Article 231
Tráfico internacional de pessoa para fim de exploração sexual
Art. 231. Promover ou facilitar a entrada, no território nacional, de alguém que nele venha a exercer a prostituição ou outra forma de exploração sexual, ou a saída de alguém que vá exercê-la no estrangeiro.
Pena - reclusão, de 3 (três) a 8 (oito) anos.
§ 1o Incorre na mesma pena aquele que agenciar, aliciar ou comprar a pessoa traficada, assim como, tendo conhecimento dessa condição, transportá-la, transferi-la ou alojá-la.
§ 2o A pena é aumentada da metade se:
I - a vítima é menor de 18 (dezoito) anos;
II - a vítima, por enfermidade ou deficiência mental, não tem o necessário discernimento para a prática do ato;
III - se o agente é ascendente, padrasto, madrasta, irmão, enteado, cônjuge, companheiro, tutor ou curador, preceptor ou empregador da vítima, ou se assumiu, por lei ou outra forma, obrigação de cuidado, proteção ou vigilância; ou
IV - há emprego de violência, grave ameaça ou fraude.
§ 3o Se o crime é cometido com o fim de obter vantagem econômica, aplica-se também multa.
International trafficking in person for the purpose of sexual exploitation
Art. 231. To promote or to facilitate the entry in the national territory, for someone who will exert the prostitution or other form of sexual exploitation, or the output of someone who will exercise it abroad.
Penalty: imprisonment of 3 (three) to 8 (eight) years.
§ 1 The penalty is also applied for those which recruit, entice or buy the trafficked person, as well as, those which having knowledge of this condition, transport, transfer or host the trafficked person.
§ 2 The penalty is increased by half if:
I - the victim is a minor of 18 (eighteen) years;
II - the victim, by illness or mental disability, does not have the necessary discernment for the practice of the act;
III - if the agent is ascendant, stepfather, stepmother, brother, stepson, spouse, companion, tutor or curator, preceptor or employer of the victim, or if he assumed, by law or otherwise, obligation of care, protection or surveillance; or
IV - there are employment of violence, serious threat or fraud.
§ 3 If the crime is committed in order to obtain economic benefit, a fine is also applied.
[unofficial translation]
Penal Code, article 231-A
Tráfico interno de pessoa para fim de exploração sexual
Art. 231-A- Promover ou facilitar o deslocamento de alguém dentro do território nacional para o exercício da prostituição ou outra forma de exploração sexual:
Pena - reclusão, de 2 (dois) a 6 (seis) anos.
§ 1o Incorre na mesma pena aquele que agenciar, aliciar, vender ou comprar a pessoa traficada, assim como, tendo conhecimento dessa condição, transportá-la, transferi-la ou alojá-la.
§ 2o A pena é aumentada da metade se:
I - a vítima é menor de 18 (dezoito) anos;
II- a vítima, por enfermidade ou deficiência mental, não tem o necessário discernimento para a prática do ato
III- se o agente é ascendente, padrasto, madrasta, irmão, enteado, cônjuge, companheiro, tutor ou curador, preceptor ou empregador da vítima, ou se assumiu, por lei ou outra forma, obrigação de cuidado, proteção ou vigilância; ou
IV - há emprego de violência, grave ameaça ou fraude.
§ 3o Se o crime é cometido com o fim de obter vantagem econômica, aplica-se também multa
Internal trafficking in person for the purpose of sexual exploitation
Art.231-A- To promote or to facilitate the displacement of someone within the national territory for the exercise of prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation:
Penalty - imprisonment of 2 (two) to 6 (six) years.
§ 1 The penalty is also applied for those which recruit, entice or buy the trafficked person, as well as, those which having knowledge of this condition, transport, transfer or host the trafficked person.
§ 2 The penalty is increased by half if:
I - the victim is a minor of 18 (eighteen) years;
II - the victim, by illness or mental disability, does not have the necessary discernment for the practice of the act;
III - if the agent is ascendant, stepfather, stepmother, brother, stepson, spouse, companion, tutor or curator, preceptor or employer of the victim, or if he assumed, by law or otherwise, obligation of care, protection or surveillance; or
IV - there are employment of violence, serious threat or fraud.
§ 3 If the crime is committed in order to obtain economic benefit, a fine is also applied.
[unofficial translation]
2nd instance:
After having her claims denied by the first instance judge, the defendant filed a Habeas Corpus to the Regional Federal Court, requesting the halting of the criminal lawsuit against her.
The court, however, ruled that the complaint demonstrated the respondent’s association with several other people to promote, intermediate and facilitate the internal and international trafficking in person for the purpose of sexual exploitation, by gaining direct financial benefits.
The leader of this cuadrilha was a woman named J.A.O, and according to the initial accusation, the defendant was her person of trust in Europe, since she lived in Portugal and managed the victims on that continent.
Some intercepted phone calls proved the defendant’s participation in this organization. In one of them, a member of the cuadrilha named V. revealed that a woman named Y.M. was going to Europe to meet a client named A. and that later she would meet M.S.J.B., who would send her to a Portuguese client. Another phone call made between J.A.O. and M.S.J.B. revealed J.A.O.’s plan to send some women to Arabic countries once the Ramadan would be over.
The Court denied the respondent’s claims, considering the complaint well formulated, since it displayed clearly and objectively the facts attributed to the defendant. This enabled the exercise of the right of full defense, as foreseen in the legal system, and that it filled the requirements from the article 41 of the Penal Procedure Code, adding that the complaint had to be succinct.
Federal Regional Court (Tribunal Regional Federal da 3a região)
Court Decision - Processo 2009.03.00.014160-5
