THE POLICE have detained a married couple from Dolné Krškany, Nitra Region, who forced six disabled people to beg for money in Germany. The 38-year-old man and his 37-year-old spouse now face seven to 10 years in prison for human trafficking.
“The beggars had to hand in all the money they got every day,” said Renáta Čuháková, spokesperson for Nitra regional police, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Čuháková added that if they did not bring in a certain amount of money, the couple beat them and threatened them with death or bodily harm. They also prevented their disabled captives from contacting anyone or going anywhere on their own.
“After arriving to Slovakia, they kept them locked in a family house in Nitra,” Čuháková added, as quoted by TASR.
Some of the disabled victims were forced to beg for several years. When the couple allegedly had to pay a fine for one of the beggars, they later claimed the money back, asking for €10,000. The person had to ask for a loan in a bank, under the threat of death, TASR reported.
The couple will be prosecuted in custody.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
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