Sydney couple forced five women to live in ‘conditions of slavery’

MELBOURNE - It has emerged that a couple from Sydney forced five women to live in “conditions of slavery”, and made them work more than 100 hours per week, even if they were sick.

The jurors at the NSW District Court, who were told the hearing is a retrial, heard that the five women were recruited from Thailand by a third party, who arranged Australian visas for them.rown prosecutor Bruce Levet said on their arrival in Sydney, the women had their passports and phones taken and they were housed in “restricted circumstances” at the Fairfield brothel or the couple’s house.

In his opening address, Levet said the women were told they had incurred a debt of between 35,000 dollars and 45,000 dollars and had to work it off.

The jury was told the money the women made was split between the brothel and paying off their “artificial” debt.

He said the women, who cannot be identified, were forced to work at least 16 hours a day, seven days a week, even when they were menstruating or while they were sick.

Levet said the women were often locked in the premises and the couple dictated what they wore and where they went.

“(The crown submits) … these women were held and used in conditions of slavery,” the Australian quoted Levet as saying.

Trevor Frank McIvor, 62, and his de facto wife, Kanokporn Tanuchit, 44, have each pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing a slave and five counts of using a slave.

The trial continues before Judge Jonathan Williams. (ANI)