Senior Deputy DPP Laments Obstacles to Prosecuting Human Trafficking

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the unit with responsibility for prosecuting human trafficking crimes, Sharon- Milwood Moore, says there have been approximately 12 such prosecutions in Jamaica since 2007.

Neika Lewis reports on some of the challenges to prosecuting human trafficking related matters in the country.

On July 31, 2020 a judge alone trial in the Home Circuit Court found Kingston resident, Devon Scott guilty of Human Trafficking and Living on the Earnings of Prostitution under the Sexual Offences Act.

Scott’s been ordered by the courts to pay a fine of restitution to his victim.

But that’s one in a small number of cases prosecuted since the passage of the Trafficking in Persons Prevention,Suppression and Punishment Act in 2007.

Mrs Millwood Moore notes several obstacles to prosecuting these matters.

She says some victims have been diagnosed with Stockholm Syndrome.

And even after allaying victims’ fears, some foreign nationals abandon the case upon leaving Jamaica.

Neika Lewis for Nationwide News.