The Polish police closed in on the 42-year-old man and two female accomplices of him in October, 2017. His firm was involved in illegal employment of foreigners and local residents.
The suspects might have forced over 540 people to work and earn more than 4.5 mln zlotys (more than €1 mln). The man invested illegally acquired wealth in his legal business.
The group searched for would-be victims on the Internet and in employment agencies saying they would assist in finding a job at construction sites in Poland and Sweden. Belarusians, Ukrainians, Georgians, Moldovans were among the job-seekers. The ‘employees’ were tested for disposition towards obedience and manipulation.
They did not sign any contracts or made them in a language the workers did not speak; the suspects took away their passports and refused to pay them. The victims were threatened with deportation, intimidated, abused and beaten.
The case is on the watch list Gdansk prosecutor’s office. The prime suspect who is facing three years in prison has been placed in detention and charged with trafficking in persons. The two women are accused of money laundering.
