Trial in human trafficking case nearing completion

The trial in the sensational Nedumbassery human trafficking case, in which women from Kerala were taken to brothels in Gulf countries, is inching closer to completion.

KOCHI: The trial in the sensational Nedumbassery human trafficking case, in which women from Kerala were taken to brothels in gulf countries, is inching closer to completion. The witness examination proceedings in the case will conclude at the CBI Court in Kochi by next week.The accused facing the in-camera trial are Suresh K V, Lissy Sojan, Sethu Lal, Anil Kumar, Bindhu, Santha, Maneesh A P, Sudharman, Varghese Raphael, Kabeer P K, Siraj, P A Rafeeq, S Mustafa and Thahir.

“There were 73 witnesses in the case. The 72nd and the 73rd witness are officers of the investigation team. Their examination will be over by next week,” said CBI officers. Post witness examination, the court will schedule proceedings under 313 CrPC under which the accused will be handed questionnaires and their responses will be recorded. The defence examination will be held before the court pronounces a verdict. “We expect the trial to be completed in two months,” the officers said.


The incident had come to light in 2013 when a woman from Kazhakootam, Thiruvananthapuram, arrived in Mumbai after escaping the sex racketeers in Sharjah. Authorities in Mumbai had handed her over to cops at Nedumbassery. The Crime Branch investigated the case before it was handed over to CBI. Five cases were registered, some  involving police officers. In all the cases, CBI has filed chargesheets in which it said an organised group in Kerala was involved in the sex racket with the active support of airport officers.A certain Suresh K V, who the CBI arrested two years ago, allegedly operated the brothels in gulf countries. The women were promised high-paying jobs and lured into the trap. Some victims were trafficked using fake passports.

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