Police charge Sydney man with human trafficking
Federal Police have charged a Lidcombe man with human trafficking for allegedly trying to force his wife and baby to return to India and stay there.
Detectives say he used threats and forged documents in a bid to have her visa cancelled.
After a brief court appearance, the 27-year-old man - who can't be identified for legal reasons - made this startling declaration in his native Hindi: "If I don't get my wife back I'll set fire to the whole world."
It's alleged the man forced his Indian wife to go back with their baby daughter, then tried to cancel her Australian visa application, leaving them stranded.
Asked if he was a human trafficker, he said '"Yes, I sell human organs."
Once safely back in Australia, his wife went to Anti-Slavery Australia, who referred the case to Federal Police.
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"The woman feared she was being forced to travel to India without her consent, and she was eventually coerced into travelling with their two-month-old daughter," Detective Superintendent Dan Evans said.
The AFP Human Trafficking Team began investigating the case in May.
Det Supt Evan said human trafficking might seem odd in the Australian context, but it's real, if under-reported.
AFP dealt with 150 cases last financial year, mostly forced marriages, forced labour, and sexual slavery.
"It just shows the strength of the AFP's international network and the cooperation with other government agencies that we've been able to return both of these victims to Australia," Det Supt Evans said.
If convicted the man faces up to 12 years in prison.
He is due back in court in two weeks.
