The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, has upheld the conviction and 18-year prison sentence of Nigerian national, Chinedu Justice Obasi, for human trafficking and fraudulent marriage.
Obasi was initially convicted in December 2017 and sentenced in September 2018 on three counts, including two charges of harbouring women for exploitation and one count of fraudulent marriage.
According to court records, between April and September 2016, Obasi harboured two women — Busisiwe and Puleng — at a flat in Pretoria, where they were allegedly forced into prostitution. He was accused of taking their earnings, providing them with drugs, and closely monitoring them to prevent escape.
The fraudulent marriage charge dated back to 2005, when Obasi married a South African woman without living with her, with the court ruling that the union was solely to obtain legal residency.
On appeal, Obasi argued that the trial court failed to consider his personal circumstances and did not properly weigh the evidence. However, presiding Judge Graham Moshoana dismissed the claims, noting that Obasi never testified in his defence.
Judge Moshoana described the matter as a clear case of modern-day slavery, stating:
“Human trafficking exists because people are vulnerable to exploitation due to poverty, lack of education and desperation. Victims are often abused, confused and disoriented. People are trafficked for sex, labour and other related reasons.”
With the ruling, Obasi will continue serving his 18-year sentence.