Senate passes Trafficking in Persons Act

The Senate has passed amendments to the Trafficking in Persons Act to enable a judge to try trafficking offences without a jury, despite concerns raised by the opposition.

The amendments were made following reports from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that a number of irregularities were discovered with trials for Trafficking in Persons offences.

The DPP reportedly indicated that the irregularity is a symptom of issues faced in the prosecution of complex cases involving criminal networks, gangs, and trafficking cases that expose jurors and witnesses to high risk of intimidation and influence.

As a result, the DPP recommended that such matters should be tried before a judge alone in the circuit court.

But opposition senator Lambert Brown expressed concern in the Senate today that the DPP was seeking to change the law based on one case.

He also said there was no evidence that a judge-only trial would lead to more convictions, and that the change being proposed would rob citizens of their right to a trial by their peers.

Senator Brown argued that the accused should have the option of being tried before a jury.

However, government senator Ransford Braham noted that the courts have already ruled that trial by jury is not a right of citizens.

He cautioned against suggesting that the fact that a case is tried by a single judge means that the accused is being placed at a disadvantage.

Senator Braham said while he supports trials by jury, there are a lot of challenges with the system.

The bill was eventually passed without amendment.

The Senate also amended the Child Care and Protection Act to allow for an increase in the penalty from 10 years to 20 years for the sale or trafficking of children.

This will bring the Child Care and Protection Act in line with the penalty under the Trafficking in persons Act.