A woman charged with 35 counts of trafficking including 17 counts of trafficking persons, 16 counts of obtaining property by deception and two counts of money laundering appeared in the Suva High Court this morning.
Seta Sanjana Ram who is charged alongside her sister Geeta Anjana Chandar allegedly facilitated the travel of 17 Fijians who were exploited and became victims of human trafficking in New Zealand between April and September 2014.
It is alleged the two sisters obtained more than $52,142 from the 17 complainants by deception.
For the money laundering charges, it is alleged that Geeta Chandar between September and March 2014 disposed over $79,991 into a BSP account and between February and May 2014, Seta Ram allegedly disposed of $2,525 into an Australian and a New Zealand bank account that were the proceeds of crime.
The prosecution informed the court that a bench warrant has been issued against Chandar who is in Australia.
The State filed information and disclosures.
Ram has been further remanded and the matter has been adjourned to October 18th.
