Allegations of sex slavery heard in Brisbane court
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The Brisbane man who allegedly drugged, tattooed and forced women into unlawful prostitution has had his case mentioned in court.
Four women were found during raids of houses in Mount Gravatt East and South Brisbane this month, where police claim Matthew James Markcrow was keeping women aged between 17 and 24 for servitude and unlawful prostitution.
The Brisbane man who allegedly drugged, tattooed and forced women into unlawful prostitution has had his case mentioned in court.Credit:Robert Shakespeare
Mr Markcrow, 35, was taken into custody and remains behind bars.
Police allege the women were given stupefying drugs, were tattooed as being his property, and were subjected to controlled living, financial and work conditions.
Nine alleged victims have so far come forward.
Mr Markcrow has been charged with conducting business involving servitude, attempting to conduct a business involving servitude, grievous bodily harm, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing tainted property and acts intended to maim, disfigure or disable.
Other charges he faces include contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, providing unlawful prostitution, observations or recordings in breach of privacy of the genital or anal region.
The matter was heard at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where a committal callover was set for March 15.
Mr Markcrow will not be required to appear. No application for bail was made.
Hannah Christina Stead, charged with conducting a business involving servitude and knowingly carrying on the business of providing unlawful prostitution, also had her matter mentioned.
She remained on bail and will also appear for a committal callover on March 15.
Jocelyn Garcia is a journalist at the Brisbane Times, covering breaking news.