A few months after the Anti-Human Trafficking Office has been set up, a total of five cases has already been dealt with by the agency.
During the Mechesil Belau Conference on Wednesday at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, Anti-Human Trafficking coordinator Jennifer Anson said that their current data shows that five cases are already being worked out by their office, one of which has already led to a successful conviction, another is undergoing due process at the court, while three new cases are also being submitted at the office of the Attorney General for prosecution.
Previously, a Bengali national, Zakir Khair, was sentenced to a jail term of 25 years after he was found guilty of human trafficking, labor trafficking and exploiting a trafficked person.
Meanwhile, a married couple identified as Benito Obak, a local, and his wife Yuqin Xiao, a Chinese national, are charged with Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree, Prostitution, Exploiting a Trafficked Person, Labor Trafficking in the First Degree, and People Trafficking, among others. Accused Yuqin Xiao is set to appear for a court hearing on Friday.
Island Times previously reported that the anti-human trafficking office has been set up to deal with human trafficking issues and complaints in Palau. It is part of Palau’s efforts to improve its status from Tier 2 to Tier 1 in the United States Trafficking of Persons report.
Tier 2 rating is given to countries whose governments do not fully meet the reports’ minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.
A safe house was also built recently to offer a safe place for human trafficking victims. (Rhealyn C. Pojas)