Criminal entity: Viennese pimp sentenced to ten years in prison

Criminal entity: Viennese pimp sentenced to ten years in prison

A shocking case of pimping and human trafficking recently came to light in court in Vienna. The 55-year-old U. was accused of being a leading member of a criminal organization and of bringing women from Bulgaria to Austria in order to force them into prostitution. The serious charge includes not only human trafficking, but also threats, beatings and even rape suffered by the victims.

On November 13th, U. was in court, where the public prosecutor made these allegations about the association's brutal methods. “They treated women as commodities,” she explained. Despite the serious charges, the defendant vigorously denied the allegations and declared himself “not guilty”. However, the judges and lay judges found him untrustworthy and sentenced him to ten years in prison. However, the judgment is not yet final.

Long-term escape and arrest

The events date back to 2013, when the first trials took place against members of the human trafficking gang that had been bringing women to Vienna since 2009. Of the ten or so suspects who were convicted at the time, U. was not present because he had fled to England to avoid arrest. Almost a decade later, he was finally caught again and brought back to his homeland. The trial was supported by incriminating witness statements that further confirmed his activities as a pimp.

One of the central statements in the proceedings came from a victim who worked as a waitress in Bulgaria and was lured to Vienna by U. with the promise of better work. Instead of a job as a waitress, she found herself living in an apartment with several men and was forced into prostitution. Her experiences were characterized by fear and violence, as U. hit her and threatened her if she refused.

Evidence and judgments

The evidence against U. is considered “overwhelming,” which led the judges not to deny him guilt. U. tried to deny the allegations by citing his knowledge of other pimps and pointing out that the women involved had lied out of jealousy. Nevertheless, the victims' statements were profound and clear, which led to the long prison sentence being imposed.

In addition to the prison sentence, U. also has to pay 96,000 euros to one of the injured parties with whom, according to his own statement, he had a “relationship”. This sentence is part of the court's assessment of the seriousness of the offenses committed and the extent of the suffering he caused to the victims.

Although the verdict is not yet final, this case shows the serious consequences of human trafficking and violence against women in our society. Prosecutors have made no comment on the verdicts while the proceedings revealed the brutal reality of sexual exploitation.

If you or someone you know is affected by violence, there are various types of help available. The women's helpline has trained staff available at any time on 0800/222 555 to offer support. Information about other aid organizations can be found on the Women's Helpline website or at the Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters.

This case provides a shocking insight into the complex problem of human trafficking crime and raises questions about society's responsibility to denounce these crimes and hold those responsible to account.