Sex Trafficking in Durban (2010)

What happened

Sayed and Chuchumporn are due to be sentenced on May 10 and face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or R100m fine, he said. The duo were arrested in 2007 after three Thai woman fled their brothel on Umbilo road and sought sanctuary at their embassy. The woman were recruited by Chuchumporn in Thailand. Recruited as prostitutes "It was clear from the moment they left Thailand it was for prostitution. There were no false pretences," said Mhaga. Though the women knew they were recruited to be prostitutes, the harsh treatment they received at the brothel forced them to flee. "It was also revealed that they were responsible for managing operations and activities at the said premises. The premises were therefore identified as the central operational point for the unauthorised and unlawful activities," said Mhaga. "There was therefore an existence of an organised human trafficking structure where females were being sexually exploited for a profit." Sayed and Chuchumporn are presently out on bail of R30 000 and R5 000, respectively. They were convicted on 19 counts. In addition to racketeering, they were convicted for contravention of the Sexual Offences Act and Immigration Act and money laundering. Police confiscated R19 700 and have shut down the Umbilo road brothel.