Trial of Croatians suspected of child trafficking postponed in Zambia: Prosecution has no witnesses

Photo: Tanjug/AP

The trial of Croats suspected of child trafficking, which was supposed to continue today in Ndola, Zambia, did not resume because the Zambian prosecution failed to produce any witnesses.

Recommended

The judge scheduled a new court date for Friday, HRT is reporting.

Four couples from Croatia traveled to Zambia at the end of last year to take over children from Congo. The children were aged one to three and they were taken based on Croatian courts confirming adoption decisions and the Croatian Interior Ministry issuing Croatian documents for the them.

The Croatians were, however, arrested on December 7 at Ndola airport as they were trying to leave with the children, on suspicion of child trafficking, while the authenticity of the documents was also suspected.

The Croatians spent almost seven weeks in a Zambian prison, until January 23, when they were released pending the end of the trial, Index reports.

During a court date on February 6, the judge decided to end the trial and ordered them to leave Zambia within 48 hours, but the very next day they were back in custody because the indictment against them was expanded.

Then they were again released pending the end of the trial, which was also moved to a higher court.

(Telegraf.rs)