Businessman accused of human trafficking granted bail

An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Madam Sedina Agbemava, on Tuesday granted bail to one out of the six accused persons standing trial for human trafficking.

The accused person, Matthew Mille a businessman was granted GH¢10,000.00 bail with two sureties to be justified by at least a public servant.

He is to re-appear on February 28.

He pleaded not guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit crime to wit human trafficking.

Narrating the facts of the case to the court, Prosecutor Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mary Agbozo, said on December 3, 2012, the Anti Human Trafficking Unit of the CID headquarters received information that a group of Ghanaian ladies who were recruited, transported and trafficked were stranded in Bahrain.

The Prosecution said the Police was able to establish contact with the victims and investigation led to the arrest of Mille, who is the CEO of Darcam Mission Travel and tour based in Anyaa in Accra, who is also the first accused.

She said complainants in the case are head-porters and hairdressers.

DSP Agbozo said during his arrest, the accused told the police that his company has been recruiting and transporting people to Bahrain and other countries for the past seven years.

“Investigations reveal that the victims were recruited to work in Bahrain in their … occupations but ended up working as house helps for different clients without being paid for their services,” she said.

She indicated that the victims became aggressive and deviant to work and their actions ended them up in the Agency Office in Bahrain and refund was demanded from their agents in Ghana before they could be sent back home.

The prosecution said a Ghanaian pastor based in that country negotiated and paid for their tickets and after investigations the accused person together with others were charged with the offence.

Source: GNA