Last update - 00:00 15/01/2007
Human traffickers get plea deal due to overloaded court system
By Nir Hasson, Haaretz Correspondent
A plea bargain was submitted Monday to the Tel Aviv District Court in the case of eight defendants suspected of serious human trafficking charges, solicitation, pimping and false imprisonment.
The prosecution was forced to agree to the deal, which includes the removal of the most serious count of human trafficking, after the Supreme Court of Justice ordered the suspects' release citing work overload.
As a result, the defendants will serve jail sentences ranging six months to three years, and will pay NIS 100,000 fines to the two complainants in the case.
The state served a detailed indictment based on the testimony of the two complainants.
Police detained the suspects a year ago following a story broadcasted on Channel 2 TV's show Uvda. The premises of the suspects' bordellos were searched, revealing hidden tunnels where prostitutes were kept during police searches.
The Supreme Court ordered the release of the suspects after their remand was extended repeatedly for failure of scheduling court hearings in their case. The prosecution's representative said in court that an additional consideration in the ruling was the wish to adhere to the complainants' request not to appear in court.