MAASTRICHT - The court in Maastricht yesterday handed down significantly lower sentences in the major human trafficking case Krokodil vis than justice had demanded. For example, main suspect Peggy A. (29) from Meerssen must serve 20 months in prison while six years and five months had been demanded. Co-suspect Blessing I. (27) from Riemst, of hair salon Mama Bee on the Boschstraat in Maastricht, was even acquitted.

According to the court, it cannot be proven that I. arranged passports in her store to facilitate human trafficking and smuggling in South Limburg. A. is alleged to have smuggled Nigerian girls and women under duress (with voodoo rituals) to the Netherlands for years to make them work in prostitution. Justice had demanded three years and nine months against I.. According to the court, many allegations against the suspects lack sufficient evidence. In A.'s case, it can be proven from only two victims that they had to work for her in sex clubs (human trafficking) and smuggling is proven in the case of one other victim.

The second co-accused is Johan M. from Eindhoven. He has to serve two months in prison. According to the judge it was proven that he smuggled a minor from Germany to the Netherlands without having valid papers. The judges do not consider the human trafficking and lewdness with a minor he is accused of proven.