THE Department of Immigration has arrested another person in connection with the suspected sex trafficking of five Vietnamese nationals.
Han Ho Bae 62, a Korean and a holder of a Residence Permit, was apprehended at Ariraag Restaurant Limited, located along Thabo Mbeki Road in Lusaka’s Mass Media Area, following a search by officers after investigations linked him to the case.
Department of Immigration public relations officer Namati Nshinka said Bae is alleged to have facilitated one of the five Vietnamese to travel to Zambia, as indicated by a visa application letter he authored and signed.
Mr Nshinka said Bae has since been charged with one count of trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation and giving false information.
Meanwhile, a Chinese woman identified as Pan Peng, 43 has been charged with five counts of trafficking in Persons, five counts of sexual exploitation, and five counts of giving false information, while Liu Gang, a 36-year-old Chinese, has been charged with five counts of sexual exploitation.
“Further, Mr. Jia Yuqi, a 29-year-old Chinese, has also been charged with five counts of sexual exploitation and one count of failure to observe conditions specified in his residence permit contrary to section 20(5) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 of the laws of Zambia,” he said.
Mr Nshinka further said Jia Yuqi who holds a Residence Permit as a student, but a check at the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) indicated that he is a Director of two companies.
“Ms Peng and Mr Yuqi Jia were apprehended in the early hours of 19 June 2023 by a team of Immigration Officers and Officers from other Security Wings at Aroma Lodge in Roma township of Lusaka for the suspected trafficking of five Vietnamese for sexual exploitation,” he said.
He said Gang Liu, on the other hand, was nabbed at Immigration Headquarters later on the same day, where he had gone to inquire about his compatriots.
“All four suspects remain detained and will soon appear in court,” he said.
