According to authorities, victims were misled with false scholarship offers and subsequently forced into labor as fruit pickers, housed in shipping containers, and disturbingly, transported in car trunks.
“Police will assert that the woman enticed Papua New Guinea nationals to Australia with the allure of fully funded scholarships,” stated Adria Elfer from the AFP.
Abubakar is described as the CEO of BIN Educational Services and Consulting on its website.
The business acted as an agent for Central Queensland University until 2023 and lists a rundown Victorian property as its office address.
Abubakar, a dual Australian and Nigerian citizen, is accused of exploiting fifteen victims, as young as 19 years old, over a two-year period.
“Upon their arrival in Australia, these individuals were coerced into laboring on farms to settle debts they were unaware of beforehand,” Telfer alleged.
Fruit picking in the Moreton Bay and Lockyer Valley regions for up to 70 hours a week, as she allegedly pocketed their wages, unbeknownst to the farmers employing them.
“Some of them at times were living in fairly oppressive conditions, some in the boot of a car,” Telfer claims.
The 56-year-old is facing 31 charges and if convicted could spend up to 12 years behind bars.
She appeared in court yesterday, and was granted bail.
Police believe there may be more victims, and they’re appealing for them to come forward.
