A 45-year-old Hungarian woman is on trial in the regional court of Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, accused of being involved in pimping, trafficking women across borders for prostitution, and unlawful detention. The prosecution says that the accused targeted women in Hungary by posting online ads, offering them work as prostitutes in Vorarlberg.
The offer included free accommodation and tools for their work in exchange for half of their earnings. A friend of the accused accepted the offer but found the reality to be very different when she arrived.
Allegations and defense
When the victim arrived in Vorarlberg, she said that the promised items for her work, like condoms, were not provided. Also, the accused allegedly took more money from her earnings than they had agreed, which led to financial exploitation.
When the victim said she wanted to return to Hungary, the accused supposedly locked her in the apartment to stop her from leaving.
The victim called for help from the balcony, which caught the attention of people nearby. This led to a rescue operation where the authorities saved her and arrested the accused.
In court, the accused pleaded not guilty. She claimed that she was just offering her friend a place to stay after plans for her to work in Switzerland did not work out. The accused admitted to posting ads to find women but said the original plan was for the victim to work in Switzerland, not Austria. She also denied keeping the victim locked up, saying that the victim had a key to the apartment and that the rescue was unnecessary.
The trial is set to continue in December, and several witnesses, including the victim, will testify. If found guilty, the accused could face up to five years in prison. Until then, she is presumed innocent.
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