10-years deterrent sentence for people trafficker [1]
Monday, May 30, 2011 - 22:55. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Ms Liu Lirong (45) a Chinese national who was found guilty on seven counts, including human trafficking, keeping a brothel and trading in prostitution was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Robert Shuster in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court this afternoon, May 30.
Appalling
Justice Shuster described Liu's criminal activities as heinous and appalling, and the worst in the criminal calendar.
He said that the maximum sentence for the trafficking of women and girls into Europe and forced them to work as prostitutes is 23 years. In the United States it is 12 to 15 years imprisonment.
Justice Shuster said that evidence during the hearing held from January to February revealed that Liu met her two victims in China and persuaded them to come to Tonga and work in a restaurant, though she did not own a restaurant.
When the two women arrived in Tonga Liu took their passports away.
"I have two people who tell me the same things that they were brought by you and kept in a house for sexual purposes.
"These two women you chose were both separated and had a child and are vulnerable when they come to another country but it is right for that country they go to, to protect everybody and every victim."
He sentenced Liu to 10 years imprisonment to deter others from such crimes.
"I decline to suspend any part of this sentence because this is an appalling crime," concluded Justice Shuster.
The case was first heard in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court in January and completed on February 4 of this year.
Liu who pleaded not guilty to all counts in her evidence strongly denied the prostitution claimed by the two victims before trial by a judge alone, Justice Shuster.