The presiding judge, in delivering the verdict, declared that the court found the charges against the defendants to be “entirely unfounded,” leading to their acquittal.
The prosecution, represented by the Public Ministry (MP), had accused a farming couple from the municipality of Peniche of setting up a scheme to recruit Moldovan citizens to work in Portugal. One woman reportedly joined the couple in March 2020.
The MP claimed that contrary to the verbal agreement made, the couple seized “almost all the money the victim earned” from agricultural work. Additionally, they allegedly coerced her into caring for their three children and managing the household chores.
In May of the following year, when the victim attempted to leave the suspects and relocate, they allegedly resisted and withheld some of her clothes, money, and passport.
The MP detailed several allegations, noting that the defendants exploited the victim’s vulnerabilities, particularly her financial struggles in her home country, by bringing her to Portugal. Once there, they used her for agricultural labor and kept “almost all the money” she earned.
In November 2021, during a search of the defendants’ residence, authorities discovered a second woman living under similar conditions.
The prosecution claimed that by offering transportation and accommodation to the victims to bring them to Portugal, the defendants intended to utilize their labor force without providing monetary compensation or paying them a negligible amount. It was alleged that they took advantage of the victims’ vulnerabilities and employed violence and deceptive means to persuade them.
At trial, the female defendant refuted the charges, stating the first woman she hosted, her sister-in-law, only worked between seven to ten days and slept in an individual bed in the children’s room. She denied preventing the woman from leaving or obligating her to perform domestic duties, except on weekends.
Regarding the alleged victims’ documents, she admitted they were stored in the couple’s room, which was not locked.
The male defendant corroborated his partner’s testimony before the court.
