WILLEMSTAD - Last week, the Joint Court of Justice ruled in an exploitation case that police officers no longer have any business in nightclubs where trago (drinking) girls work. Four suspects, including a police officer, were sentenced on appeal to prison for committing human trafficking by exploiting trago girls.
The police officer in question was complicit by facilitating and assisting the exploitation and human trafficking. He frequented the nightclub La Tasca, dressed in police uniform, and had extensive contact with the owners and one of the trago girls. Based on his official instructions, he could be expected to act against the exploitative situation, according to the Court. However, he has not done this.
The police officer and three other suspects were already convicted in 2019 for human trafficking in the form of exploitation, including by paying too low a wage and working under poor conditions. The Court of Appeal upheld this decision.
The appeal judges have added to the earlier judgment that they are of the opinion that the suspects were also guilty of sexual exploitation of the trago girls. This exploitation consisted, among other things, in making the trago girls available for sexual activities with clients of La Tasca in Hotel Carlos, whereby the suspects received a part of the proceeds from these activities.