Two entrepreneurs who deceived and exploited nine Thai berry pickers in their business during the summer of 2023 were sentenced to prison for gross human exploitation. The verdict from the Court of Appeal is now being appealed by the Prosecutor General, who wants them to be convicted of human trafficking and receive harsher penalties.
The entrepreneurs, a man and a woman in their 40s, misled the berry pickers about receiving the minimum wage according to Swedish collective agreements and working eight hours a day, five days a week.
Instead, they had to work long days without leave and were paid per kilo picked. This resulted in them receiving between 18 and 29 percent of the contractual wage after two months. Due to the exploitation, they became indebted and became dependent on the couple, who had also taken their passports from them.
In the Court of Appeal, the entrepreneurs were sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
