$1M surety for shopkeeper charged with trafficking women

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Loretta Hyman of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, charged with Trafficking in Persons was today ordered by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to post $1M surety.

The 45-year-old shop keeper was not required to plead to the offence, which alleged that between January 13 and 20; she recruited and transported two women to Mowasi Backdam, Potaro District for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant said Hyman’s daughter recruited two women in their early twenty’s to work as a cook and a shop keeper at their shop at Mowasi Backdam. On their arrival, the accused told the women that she does not have any vacancy for the positions they were told.

She told them that there are vacancies for sex workers and that is the reason they were hired. The Court heard that the virtual complainants refused to sell their bodies and managed to contact their relatives, who informed the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.  The police then made contact with the accused, and the two victims related their stories.

The Prosecutor objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that investigations are ongoing. He said that the police are trying to locate the woman’s daughter, who will also be charged.

Attorney – at – Law Lyndon Amsterdam represented Hyman and made an application for his client to be granted bail. Counsel argued that the prosecutor indicated to the Court that investigations are still pending, which suggests that the charge is premature and the facts are not clear.

In addition, he said there is no evidence to satisfy the element in which the accused was charged and the prosecution ought to satisfy the Court at the stage for bail to be denied. The objection was overruled and the case was put off to February 3.