GEORGE NEWS - A Zimbabwean woman was sentenced by the Tembalethu Regional Court for contravening the Sexual offences Act.
The accused, Nyaradzo Ellen Gewdzi (40), pleaded guilty. She was found guilty on two counts: Living off the earnings of prostitution; and keeping a brothel. Both counts were taken together for the purpose of sentencing.
She was sentenced as follows: Two years imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years. She was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The sentence followed after an intelligence-driven operation executed by the George Serious Organised Crime Investigation team together with George Vispol a year ago, on 25 May 2024 in George.
"It was reported that the team initiated a surveillance on a identified brothel. A marked police vehicle was observed at the premises, attending to a reported assault," reads a press release by Zinzi Hani, Hawks spokesperson.
"After the police vehicle left, the team made an inquiry at the station as to the purpose of their visit to the address thereafter they interviewed the complainant, a 25-year-old Zimbabwean national, who had reported being assaulted for not adhering to brothel rules.
"During the interview, the suspected trafficker, also a Zimbabwean national, arrived at the station to enquire about the whereabouts of the complainant. She was advised that she was busy with the police.
"The victim was then removed to the Hawks' office for continued interviews. It was at that moment where it was established that she was a victim of trafficking in persons and thereafter she was taken to George Hospital for medical care, and referred to an accredited shelter.
"The Hawks' team went back to the station where the suspect was still present and was immediately arrested and detained.
The accused appeared in court on several occasions where her bail was refused. She has been in custody since her arrest.
Three charges were withdrawn against the accused by the State: Trafficking in Persons; Procuration and debt bondage.
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