Woman held as sex slave, court told

By Leah Creighton
August 1, 2004

A 21-year-old Thai woman was held as a sex slave in the basement of a western Sydney brothel, a court heard yesterday.

Australian Federal Police officers have arrested a 41-year-old woman from Granville in Sydney's west. Brothel owner, Somsri Kent, 41, known as Linda, appeared in Parramatta Local Court charged with four counts of sexual slavery.

The woman has been charged with sexual servitude offences, including exercising ownership of a slave and knowingly conducting a business involving sexual servitude. A 54-year-old man has also been arrested.

The court heard police raided a brothel in Penrith on May 20, where a Thai woman and a South Korean woman were found concealed under the floor.

The real name of the Thai woman was suppressed by the court, and she was referred to as "Vivian" during proceedings. Police allege the Thai woman was forced to work in two Sydney brothels against her will.

The court heard she was lured to Australia from Bangkok by Kent and an operative, with the promise of non-sexual massage work.

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