POLICE YESTERDAY arrested a second person in connection with the alleged trafficking and exploitation of 110 Romanian workers.
A 42-year-old Romanian woman living in Nicosia was arrested on suspicion of being the accomplice of the 38-year-old Cypriot man arrested last week over the same case.
According to a police source, the woman is believed to have been responsible for monitoring the workers at a “camp” in Tseri where the workers were kept in prefab units.
The 38-year-old is being investigated for allegedly bringing the Romanian workers to Cyprus, then housing them in squalid conditions while “hiring” them out to employers. Since the workers were obliged to pay off an €800 commission to the Cypriot for finding them work, all wages earned would go straight to him, while the workers might be given €20 a week. The authorities said the 110 were found living in appalling conditions, and full of fleas, while Labour Minister Sotiroulla Charalambous likened the set-up to “modern-day slavery”.
Reports yesterday suggested the Romanian was helping the Cypriot by picking up the workers from the airport and allegedly making them sign contracts to pay the €800 commission. Statements given by the workers also reportedly accused her of threatening them and participating in their exploitation.
The Cypriot is due before the Nicosia District Court today where the authorities are expected to seek a renewal of his eight-day remand, while the Romanian will also appear before the court. The Cypriot is already awaiting trial for similar charges filed last year.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca yesterday defended police actions saying that during the latter case, police had requested that he be kept in custody until trial.
“The request was rejected by the court. The police went through all the procedures for this person to remain in custody,” he said, adding that this time police would be able to make a stronger case. The court will likely consider the new charges against the man when deciding whether to keep him in custody to prevent him committing similar crimes.
The minister pointed the finger at the Romanian authorities, saying police officers went to Romania to break up the entire ring while the first case against the 38-year-old Cypriot were being investigated, but received no cooperation from their Romanian counterparts.
“It’s not only Cypriot citizens that are involved in this ring, but Romanians too. From the evidence we had, a number of Romanian offices were also involved, but unfortunately the Romanian authorities did not show the necessary willingness to provide the required assistance to break up this ring from Romania,” said Louca.
The minister highlighted the fact that the police would be “relentless” in their attempts to end this exploitation. Interpol and Europol have already been informed, and the latter will be asked to assist in “getting cooperation from the Romanian authorities to completely dismantle this ring”, he said.
