Sydney Man Charged With Trafficking Wife, 2-month-old Daughter to India

A 27-year-old man has been charged with trafficking his wife and two-month-old daughter from Sydney to India.

Pardeep Lohan, an Australian citizen and a resident of Lidcombe city, appeared before Downing Center local court on Tuesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Lohan is charged with trafficking for which the maximum penalty is 12 years’ jail. He has also been charged with dishonesty (maximum 5 year’ imprisonment) and using a forged document (10 years’ imprisonment).

He was first targeted by detectives from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in May, The anti-human trafficking team of AFP received a tip-off about the crime in May this year. Police said Lohan used coercion, threats and deception to force his wife to go India in March.

Lohan, police sources say, contacted the Immigration Department of Australia to cancel his wife’s visa after she reached India. He also removed the two-month-old’s passport. Both of the victims are now in Australia and being taken care of by the government.