Trial Dates Set For Sisters In Human Trafficking Case

The trial dates for two sisters who are accused of trafficking people to Australia on false promises are set to begin in April next year.

Seta Sanjana Ram and Geeta Anjana Chandar are charged with 16 counts of obtaining property by deception, 17 counts of trafficking in persons, and two counts of money laundering.

They were alleged to have facilitated the exit of 17 Fijian citizens who were exploited and became victims of human trafficking in New Zealand between April and November 2014 and in facilitating the exit, were reckless as to whether the complainants would be exploited either by them or another person.

For the money laundering charges, it is alleged that Ram between February 2014 and May 2014, engaged in a transaction involving $2525 that is the proceeds of crime, by transferring the funds from her Bank of Baroda account to Australia and New Zealand account belonging to Faroz Ali and Chandra, knowing or ought reasonably to know that the same amounts were derived or realised directly some other form of unlawful activity, which was obtaining money by deception.

For the obtaining property by deception charges, between April and November 2014, Ram and Chandra obtained a total sum of $52,142 from the 17 complainants.

Their trial has been fixed to begin on April 11 and conclude on May 26, 2022. The matter will be called for mention on December 2.