A German national who allegedly lured women with false promises of job opportunities in Croatia through a dating site, appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court in Gauteng on Friday on charges of Human Trafficking and Fraud.
56-year-old Joachim Will was arrested on Tuesday by a joint police team led by the Hawks in the West Rand, who worked closely with Interpol, Crime Intelligence, and Gauteng's Provincial Border Policing.
The breakthrough came when police intercepted two Madagascan women, who were in the company of the accused as they attempted to board a flight to Croatia on 30 April 2024.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Philani Nkwalase said upon further inspection it was revealed that the women, aged 32 and 29 years old had fraudulent Italian passports.
They were both arrested.
Further investigation by the Hawks uncovered that Will allegedly recruited the women through a dating site in Madagascar and lured them with the false promise of lucrative job opportunities in Croatia.
He also allegedly facilitated their travel to South Africa, where they met and reportedly provided them with fraudulent Italian passports for their travel from South Africa to Croatia.
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya commended the diligent work of the multidisciplinary team involved, stating: "The coordinated efforts of our team members have been instrumental in swiftly preventing our county from being used to commit crime as a transit venue.
"We remain committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice for the victims of trafficking in persons is restored."
During Will's appearance in court on Friday, the case was remanded to 10 May for a formal bail application.
