The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Western Division is actively looking for a couple allegedly involved in human trafficking in the coastal village of La Preneuse following a statement made by a 38-year-old Belarusian woman during the evening of Friday, January 7, at the Black River Police Station. The thirty-year-old had landed in Mauritius on Friday, December 29, 2021 aboard a Turkish Airline flight following an invitation from a woman, Elzat, whom she met on the Telegraph application. After celebrating the New Year with four other women of Russian and Ukrainian nationality respectively, on Monday January 3, Elzat and her companion, Eddi made her understand that she will have to work as an ‘escort girl’ for them.
This investigation conducted by the Superintendent of Police, Shyam Bansoodep has already identified these two alleged suspects, Elzat and Eddi, who are actively sought. A lawman has contacted the CID to surrender them to the police.
What seemed like a fairy tale in Mauritius turned into a nightmare for a Belarusian woman on Monday, January 3. That day, she was informed by Elzat’s companion that she would have to work as an ‘escort’. She says that she immediately rejected this proposal and expressed her intention to go to the police. Eddi, according to her version, then pushed her onto a sofa and told her loud and clear that he was going to bribe police officers to turn a blind eye to her business and that no one would come to her rescue. And that if she ever tried to run away, his mafia friends would come to her aid.
Elzat seized her passport before handing it over to her companion. On Wednesday, January 5, Eddi told her that if she wanted to get her passport back and leave the country, she would have to have sex with one of his friends. She said she refused this indecent proposal. Eddi then threatened her that she would disappear and that she would never see her family again. The same day around 8 p.m., she was taken in a vehicle to a two-story building in the same area. On the second floor, Eddi introduced her to a tall, light-skinned individual with metal teeth. Frightened, she asked this man not to sexually abuse her. He replied that he had paid for her. After having had non-consensual sex with her, this man called to have her picked up by the “pimp”, Eddi.
Back at this apartment in La Preneuse, she joined Elzat and the other women there. They spent the night consuming alcohol. On Thursday, January 6, at around 9 a.m., while the other women were sleeping, she took the opportunity to search a closet. She managed to find her passport and she took her suitcase and left this place. She made a reservation at a hotel in the north of the country and took a cab to that destination. On Friday, January 7, she went to the police station in Trou aux Biches to file a complaint, but she was asked to make a statement in Black River.
In her statement, she explained that she will be able to identify this man and his companion. The Belarusian woman, who was initially supposed to leave the country on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, has already returned to her country on Sunday, January 9, 2022.
