A man who had been labelled as a high-priority target after more than a year on the run, Liu Liang, 33, was caught trying to flee the country at OR Tambo International Airport on September 11.
His arrest, following a warrant issued in June 2023, marked the latest turn in a human trafficking scandal that rocked the nation last year.
Liang, now facing serious human trafficking charges, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on September 12. His arrest followed intense efforts by the Hawks, The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
“This followed the arrest of three of his alleged accomplices, Thai females; Walairak Thaemchange, 34, Warunee Aryasid, 37, and a Chinese male, Lin Yong Peter Huang, 34. The trio was arrested on Sunday, July 20, 2023, at a house along Johnny Classens Street, Garsfontein, Pretoria,” police spokesperson captain Lloyd Ramovha, said.
According to the police statement, the probe was sparked by the daring escape of a female victim, who informed the Thai Embassy about her harrowing ordeal.
“The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in collaboration with other police units acted on a tip-off following a female victim who managed to escape from her captors and alerted the Thai Embassy about her ordeal of being kept against her will and being sexually exploited at the same premises,“ Ramovha said.
Thaemchange, Aryasid, and Huang were arrested on July 20, and later appeared in Pretoria court. Huang was granted R100,000 bail following multiple court appearances, while Thaemchange and Aryasid are still in arrested.
Liang’s case has been moved to September 25, for a bail hearing, with the court anticipated to reconvene on September 27, for additional proceedings.
-IOL
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