Suriname police detain alleged human trafficker
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| Published on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 |
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By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Police in Suriname have arrested and subsequently detained a Korean national (49) on suspicion of human trafficking, a prosecutor has confirmed. The suspect was the captain on a fishing boat with four Vietnamese fishermen on board. The arrest came after one of the crew members committed suicide by hanging, to escape his ordeal.
Preliminary investigations have revealed, said prosecutor Garcia Paragsingh, that the four Vietnamese nationals working on the boat, were forced to hard labour on the vessel without payment, proper medical care and food. For over a two year period, two of ill-treated crew members did not receive payment for their work, while the remaining two fishermen told police that for over one year they did not receive salaries and were not allowed to leave the boat.
The captain, a Korean national, allegedly refused to allow them to see a doctor when they became sick, while they were forced to work long hours under very poor conditions even when they were physically unable to do so. According to police sources, the worker who committed suicide apparently got sick and asked to be taken to shore to seek medical treatment. After his requests were rejected by the captain, the man hung himself.
The suspected trafficker was arrested by officers of the Trafficking in Persons Unit of the Suriname Police Force (KPS) said police spokeswoman Maritha Ritfeld-Asontoe. According to the spokeswoman, the captain refused to pay salaries, telling his crew that there was no money.
The family of the fishermen in Vietnam never received any remittance as was promised and heard nothing again from the fishing crew. According to police, the worker who committed suicide requested payment again recently and, when his requests were again rejected, he took his own life.
Although the remaining Vietnamese fishermen are currently illegally in Suriname, their illegal status has been lifted for the time being, since they are victims of human trafficking, said Ritfeld-Asontoe.
“Currently we are treating them as victims and they are receiving the care and attention that is mandatory in such situations,” the spokeswoman further added.
Ultimately the three men will be sent back to Vietnam. |
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