A 52-year-old man from the Ialoveni district has been placed under house arrest after allegedly exploiting a minor from the same locality through labor for a year. The suspect allegedly threatened and physically forced him. The man restricted his right to freedom of movement and forced him to work in order to make a profit, IPN reports.
During the investigation, the lawmen established that the suspect exploited the victim for a period of one year, starting December 2023.
The 17-year-old boy allegedly worked in the suspect's farm household. Subsequently, under the pretext of an accident at that time of a car belonging to the man, the minor was transported to his home, where he was housed against his will, in living conditions similar to slavery, police said.
A criminal case was opened in the case for "child trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation".
The suspect was remanded under house arrest for 30 days, during which time he is presumed innocent according to the law, and the victim is to be heard under special conditions in the criminal case.
Under current legislation, a person guilty of such an offense is liable to 10 to 12 years' imprisonment.
