Syam Soni Secures Acquittal in Modern Slavery and Exploitation Trial
Syam represented the second defendant of five, all of whom were said to be part of a gang that had kept a Vietnamese man in servitude by compelling him to work in a 'cannabis factory’. It was alleged that Syam’s client, along with others, had subjected the complainant to a 'retribution beating' when some of the drugs were stolen.
Three of the five defendants pleaded guilty to offences including requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour on the fifth day of the two-week trial at Bradford Crown Court.
Syam’s client argued that he was not responsible for the offending, and that, far from compelling or assaulting the complainant, he had helped him by purchasing a mobile phone and giving him money.
Syam’s client was the only defendant to be acquitted of the human trafficking/modern slavery offences, instead being convicted of only the cannabis production.
Syam was instructed, and assisted throughout, by Mohammed Abid of Shaikh Solicitors.
