Woman 'kidnapped and trafficked through 10 countries'

A Chinese woman allegedly trafficked into NI for sexual exploitation may have been moved between 10 countries, the High Court has heard.

She claimed to have been kidnapped in Turkey after going there in search of work, and then taken on to Spain.

A judge was told she could have been in other countries before arriving in Belfast on a flight from Barcelona.

Details emerged as bail was refused to a man charged with trafficking her into the UK.

Bin Wang, 26, with an address at Drogheda in the Irish Republic, denies the allegation and claims to have been unwittingly used by others.

The court was told that the alleged victim was stopped at Belfast International Airport on 20 April because she was using a false passport.

A prosecution lawyer said she told immigration staff that she was being trafficked and was to meet a man.

She was taken to an emergency housing centre but left a day later.

A social worker and an owner of the centre found her by the side of a road near Antrim.

They refused to let the woman go with a Chinese man who pulled up in a car, claiming she was a friend of his.

The accused was later arrested in the car just outside Newry, the court heard.

At first he claimed to have been shopping in the area, but later said that he had been instructed by another man to collect the woman.

A defence barrister said: "His case is that he has been unwittingly dragged into a potentially more serious situation than he thought."

Mr Justice Stephens said the case involved an "international dimension".

"The alleged victim is from China and it is suggested that she has come to this country via at least Turkey and Spain," he said.

"Indeed, there is a suggestion that she has travelled to 10 different countries."

Refusing bail, he added: "There is a prima facie case that the movement across those borders has been organised by a criminal organisation.

"In such circumstances I consider there is a risk of flight."