A 58-year-old man from Tonga has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for trafficking a Fijian mother of three under the guise of providing employment. Ashok Kumar, a resident of Fangaloto, was convicted by the Supreme Court of Tonga after arranging for the 36-year-old woman to travel from Fiji to Tonga in October 2024.
Kumar initially contacted the victim through Facebook as she was searching for work to support her family. He promised her a job at the Tanoa Hotel, claiming she would earn $10 per hour. He paid for her airfare and requested her passport details, misleading her into believing it was necessary for immigration purposes.
Upon her arrival in Tonga on October 4, the victim quickly realized that the job did not exist, her living conditions were far from what was promised, and she had no connections in the country. Disturbingly, she reported that Kumar attempted to sexually assault her on three separate occasions, which left her feeling scared and isolated.
During the court proceedings, Crown Counsel highlighted that the victim had been misled by Kumar’s false promises. After growing fearful for her safety, she reached out to a cousin who is a police officer, leading to Kumar’s arrest on October 8.
Though Kumar admitted to facilitating her travel, he denied promising her employment, a claim the court ultimately rejected. Justice Tupou KC, in sentencing, described Kumar’s actions as predatory and emphasized the victim’s vulnerability and the betrayal of trust involved in the case. While the Crown sought a ten-year sentence, Kumar received seven and a half years, with the last six months suspended under specific conditions including probation and committing no further offenses.
Despite the traumatic experience, the victim has since returned to Fiji and expressed her shock that someone like Kumar would exploit her in such a manner. This case highlights the ongoing issues of human trafficking and the importance of supporting vulnerable individuals seeking employment opportunities abroad.
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