A South African court has upheld the conviction and 18-year jail sentence of a Nigerian man, Chinedu Justice Obasi, for human trafficking and entering a fake marriage to secure residency.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria gave its ruling on Wednesday, rejecting Obasi’s appeal against his 2017 conviction and the sentence handed to him in September 2018.
Court records showed that between April and September 2016, Obasi held two women, identified as Busisiwe and Puleng, in a flat in Pretoria, where they were forced into prostitution. The women said he took their earnings, supplied them with drugs, and monitored their movements to stop them from escaping.
The fraudulent marriage charge dates back to 2005 when Obasi married a South African woman but never lived with her. The court ruled the marriage was only to help him obtain legal residency in the country.
Busisiwe met Obasi in December 2015, while Puleng was introduced to him through Busisiwe in May 2016. Both women said they later fell under the control of Obasi and his associate, who exploited them until their rescue.
During the appeal, Obasi argued that the trial court did not consider his personal situation or review the evidence properly.
However, Judge Graham Moshoana dismissed the claims, saying Obasi never testified in his own defence.
“Human trafficking exists because people are vulnerable to exploitation due to poverty, lack of education and desperation,” Moshoana said. “Victims are often abused, confused and disoriented. People are trafficked for sex, labour and other related reasons.”
With the ruling, Obasi will remain in prison to serve out his 18-year sentence.
