The main focus of EMPOWER PEOPLE lies on awareness raising and sensitization trainings for law enforcement agencies. The organization is also offering direct victim support and assistance to women vulnerable to human trafficking and domestic violence.Police suspect that the director of a Finnish modelling agency has taken sexual advantage of a number of young women in different parts of Finland.
The 48-year-old man from Joensuu is suspected of aggravated human trafficking, rape, and sexual abuse. The suspected crimes are said to have taken place between late 2009 and early 2011.
Police say that one woman became the victim of aggravated human trafficking, and five were raped.
There are at least 13 alleged victims, two of whom are underage. The youngest of the victims was 16 and the oldest were slightly over 20, says Chief Detective Superintendent Petri Rainiala of the drugs unit of the Helsinki Police.
Police say that the women had been enticed into the activities by offering them modelling work. One of the channels that was used was the website of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
Some of the women also took part in a modelling contest organised by the agency.
The actual work proved to differ significantly from that of a professional model. After signing the contract, test photos were taken of the women in little or no clothing, and work opportunities were primarily for strip shows and other erotic performances.
“For instance, the women were told that they would be modelling lingerie, and the event turned out to be a sex performance”, Rainiala says.
The suspicion of aggravated human trafficking stems from a situation in which the victim was allegedly had to perform sexual acts in private performances, for instance.
“There have been threats and actions that can be considered violent.”
Police say that rapes occurred in connection with performance tours. Sexual abuse also allegedly took place during photo shoots.
“The victims found the photo shoots to be very oppressive and unpleasant. Some refused to take part, but not all of them were capable of refusing”, Rainiala says.
The main suspect has been in custody since May. In addition to him, a man under the age of 30 has been remanded, suspected of two rapes. Rainiala says that the man himself had taken part in an erotic performance.
Rainiala cannot say how many women have been on the lists of the agency. Nearly 20 of them have been interviewed by police during the investigation.
source
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