A Tunapuna businessman is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today on charges of human trafficking, child prostitution and assault.
A statement issued by the T&T Police Service yesterday identified the accused as 30-year-old Anthony Smith.
Smith was charged yesterday by the Counter Trafficking Unit’s Inspector Leon Haynes, following investigations that began on September 23, last year, after police officers raided a house located at Cane Farm Road, Arouca.
The release said Smith is facing one charge of recruiting a child for the purpose of trafficking contrary to Section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons Act Chapter 12:10; 17 charges of sexually penetrating a child contrary to Section 18 of the Children’s Act; five charges of child prostitution contrary to Section 14 of the Children’s Act; and three charges of assault under Section 30 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 11:08. The charges were laid by WPC Dane-Marie Marshall.