Case Law Database

Trafficking in persons

Case No B 756-12

Fact Summary

The defendant transported the victim by car from Italy, through Germany and to Sweden for the purpose of stealing. However, the District Court stated that it was not proved that the conditions for human trafficking were met.

Sentence Date:
2012-03-02
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
Acts:
Recruitment
Transportation
Harbouring
Means:
Abuse of power or a position of vulnerability
Purpose of Exploitation:
Forced labour or services

Cross-Cutting Issues

Liability

... for

• completed offence

... based on

• criminal intention

... as involves

• principal offender(s)

Offending

Details

• occurred across one (or more) international borders (transnationally)

Involved Countries

Italy

Germany

Sweden

Procedural Information

Legal System:
Civil Law
Latest Court Ruling:
Court of 1st Instance
Type of Proceeding:
Criminal
 

Victims / Plaintiffs in the first instance

Victim:
1 Individual
Gender:
Child
Nationality:
Italian
Age:
8
Born:
1994

Defendants / Respondents in the first instance

Defendant:
Defendant
Gender:
Male
Nationality:
Romanian
Age:
43
Born:
1969
Legal Reasoning:

The prosecutor stated that the Defendant had transferred the victim from Italy to Sweden for the purpose of stealing. However, the District Court stated that it was not proved that the conditions for human trafficking to take place had been met.

Charges / Claims / Decisions

Defendant:
Defendant
Legislation / Statute / Code:

Chapter 4, Section 1 a) of the Swedish Penal Code (Sw: brottsbalken)  (The latest amendment was adopted on July 1, 2010.)

Unofficial office translation:

Chapter 4, Section 1 a of the Swedish Penal Code - A person who, in other cases than those referred to in Section 1, uses unlawful coercion or deceit, exploits another person’s vulnerable situation or by some other such improper means recruits, transports, harbours, receives a person with the intent that this person shall be exploited for sexual purposes, removal of organs, military service, forced labour or other activities in a situation that implies a situation of distress for the victim, shall be sentenced for trafficking in human beings to imprisonment for at least two years and at most ten years.

A person who commits an act referred to in the first paragraph against a person who is under eighteen years of age shall be sentenced for trafficking in human beings even if none of the improper means described in that paragraph was used.

If an offence referred to in the first or second paragraphs is less serious, the sentence shall be imprisonment for at most four years.

SFS 2010:371

Text in original language (Swedish):

4 kap. 1 a § BrB - Den som, i annat fall än som avses i 1 §, genom olaga tvång, vilseledande, utnyttjande av någons utsatta belägenhet eller med annat sådant otillbörligt medel rekryterar, transporterar, överför, inhyser eller tar emot en person i syfte att han eller hon ska exploateras för sexuella ändamål, avlägsnande av organ, krigstjänst, tvångsarbete eller annan verksamhet i en situation som innebär nödläge för den utsatte, döms för människohandel till fängelse i lägst två och högst tio år.

Den som begår en gärning som avses i första stycket mot en person som inte har fyllt arton år döms för människohandel även om inte något sådant otillbörligt medel som anges där har använts.

Är ett brott som avses i första eller andra stycket mindre grovt, döms till fängelse i högst fyra år. SFS 2010:371

Charge details:

Human Trafficking

Verdict:
Not Guilty
Compensation / Payment to Victim:
No 
Fine / Payment to State:
No 

Court

Svea Court of Appeal (Svea Hovrätt)

Sources / Citations

Case No B 756-12