The Crown is calling for the confiscation of money from the former owner of a Highland hotel who was jailed for human trafficking.
Shamsul Arefin was sentenced to three years after being convicted of mistreating four workers from Bangladesh in what was described as a “clear case of modern-day slavery”.
In July of last year, Arefin was found guilty after trial at Fort William Sheriff Court of the offences, which occurred while he was owner of the Stewart Hotel near Appin, Argyll.
Last month, his appeal against his conviction and sentence was rejected
And the Crown is now pursuing a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Crown Office yesterday refused to say how much money was involved or to provide any details about the order.
Arefin, recruited the men as chefs from his native Bangladesh.
The 47-year-old lured them from Bangladesh to Scotland with the promise of a new life and good wages.
Instead they found themselves enduring a miserable existence of abuse and exploitation.
The men were forced to pay £18,000 for employment, which Arefin described at his trial as a “deposit” to be returned if they stayed in his employment for five years.
On arrival, their salaries were cut and workload raised.
And their deposits were never returned.
The crimes came to light after a lengthy investigation by the UK Border Agency and the then-Northern Constabulary.
At Arefin’s trial, the Crown’s national lead prosecutor for human trafficking Kath Harper said: “Arefin’s greed had life-changing implications not just for his victims, but for their families and others who supported them.
“Human trafficking can come in many forms and as prosecutors we are committed to doing all we can do eradicate it from Scotland.”
