A 55-year-old woman from Mount Waverley, Melbourne, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment after being found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice during an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation into slavery. The sentencing took place on 7 July 2023.
The woman and her husband were previously convicted and jailed in 2021 following an AFP investigation that revealed they had kept a victim as a slave for eight years. The couple had subjected the victim to appalling conditions, forcing her to live in squalor while performing domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for their children. The victim’s health deteriorated severely, leading to malnourishment, diabetes, and gangrene of the feet and hands. She was eventually admitted to the hospital for treatment.
In June 2016, the AFP charged the couple with slavery offences. However, in 2020, while awaiting trial, the woman attempted to obstruct the course of justice. She contacted the victim and made threats, warning her not to testify during the court proceedings.
In February 2020, the AFP Human Trafficking Team charged the woman with attempting to pervert the course of justice, in violation of section 43 of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). The case was heard separately from the slavery proceedings.
On 13 June 2023, the woman pleaded guilty to the offence. Yesterday, on 7 July 2023, she was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to an additional two years and six months imprisonment. The Judge ordered that the sentence would commence 18 months before the completion of her current sentence for the slavery offences.
Previously, the court had sentenced the woman to eight years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years, for the slavery offences. Her husband received a sentence of six years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years. The cumulative sentence for the woman now stands at nine years, with a non-parole period of four years and six months. She will be eligible for parole in January 2026.
AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher expressed serious concern over any attempts to interfere with the integrity of a trial. She emphasised that the AFP is dedicated to upholding the integrity of the criminal justice system and that individuals who attempt to obstruct the judicial process face significant penalties.
