Australian Man Accused of Trafficking Wife to Pakistan

A Sydney man, Muhammad Bilal Khan, 35, has been charged with allegedly trafficking his wife to Pakistan. Khan is accused of taking his wife's passport and identification documents before leaving Australia earlier this year, under the guise of a holiday.

Authorities allege that once in Pakistan, the woman was informed she would have to remain there permanently, while Khan returned to Australia alone. It is further alleged that Khan purchased a one-way ticket for himself without disclosing this to his wife and withheld her passport and identification, preventing her from accompanying him.

Federal Police investigators executed a search warrant at a Sydney home on September 16, seizing electronic devices, an airline ticket, and identification documents. Khan was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of facilitating the exit of another person from Australia through threat, deception, or coercion.

He appeared in Downing Centre Local Court and was granted bail. If convicted, Khan could face a maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment.

Detective Superintendent Luke Needham of the AFP stated that exit trafficking is an "insidious offence." He emphasized that the AFP investigates such cases and that actions to force or deceive someone to leave Australia are criminal offenses. Indicators of potential exit trafficking include a person traveling without their passport, lacking a return ticket or phone, and being unable to provide personal contact details for bookings.

The AFP encourages anyone who suspects they or someone they know may be a victim of exit trafficking to come forward, assuring that all reports will be taken seriously and assessed with dignity, with assistance available to victims.

The case is scheduled for its next hearing at the Downing Centre on December 1. The AFP can be contacted at 131 AFP (237) for those suspecting modern slavery or human trafficking.