A 24-year-old man from Veldhoven is accused of sexually exploiting his then-girlfriend for several months at the end of 2023. He is also suspected of abuse and fraud through WhatsApp. The Public Prosecution Service demands 5.5 years in prison and a five-year contact ban against him.
‘Human traffickers establish a (romantic) relationship with the victim and bring them under their control. The relationship quickly turns into one of emotional and psychological abuse. They try to isolate the victim, making them completely dependent on them and unable to rely on anyone else. Unfortunately, this is exactly what we see in this case.’ This is how the public prosecutor began her plea today.
Preparatory Actions
The police investigation, which includes statements from the victim, witness testimonies, and bank records, confirms this picture. Various actions, such as transferring money, isolating (male) friends, and even urging the victim to get a tattoo, preceded the period of sexual exploitation. In August 2023, the victims involvement in prostitution began, during which the man posted advertisements, arranged appointments, and dictated how the work should be done. He also transported her to the appointments. He was arrested on December 5, 2023, during a police check while bringing her to a subsequent appointment.
Fines
The money the victim earned had to be largely surrendered to the suspect. From her minimal earnings, she also had to pay fines that the suspect imposed on her. The woman was exploited by working long hours and performing actions against her will. Additionally, the suspect allegedly misused the victims bank account to commit WhatsApp fraud. One of her clients was also allegedly assaulted by him after a disagreement over an appointment.
Suffering
The Public Prosecution Service emphasizes that human trafficking, the exploitation of others, is one of the more serious crimes in our penal code. The prosecution accuses the suspect of causing immense suffering to the victim. The public prosecutor stated: ‘Where she gave him everything (money, her bank card, her trust), he took everything from her. He manipulated her completely: she paid for everything for him, even got a tattoo with his name against her will, and was eventually persuaded to engage in sex work. As a result, she will suffer from long-term psychological issues.’
Prison Sentence and Contact Ban
In this case, the Public Prosecution Service believes that only a long prison sentence is appropriate. Besides the seriousness of the offense, the long duration, multiple offenses, and the suspects previous encounters with the justice system are taken into account. The prosecution demands a prison sentence of 5.5 years and a five-year contact ban. The court will rule in two weeks.