…..Jailed for coercing his then wife to Leave Australia against her will
By Kwedu News
Victoria- A-52-year old Sudanese Australian man has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for exit trafficking, a form of coercion to leave Australia forcibly or under threats, marking the first such conviction in Victoria’s history, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has reported.
The man, Mohamed Ahmed Omer, an Australian citizen with origins in Sudan, was found guilty of coercing his then-wife to leave Australia against her will.
In 2014, ABC reports, Omer secretly withdrew support for his wife’s visa and made false claims to authorities, alleging that she had abused and “abandoned” their two young children.
He then travelled with the family to Sudan, but took her passport and identity documents before boarding a plane back to Australia with the children while stranding her in Sudan.
The Victoria County Court heard that Omer’s deception lasted over a year, preventing his wife from returning to Australia.
Presiding, Judge Frank Gucciardo stated that Omer’s deception was “intentional and resulted in the wife’s compliance in the exit from Australia” and that “at all times you had reassured her that she would be able to return to Australia.”
Omer’s crime was described as having a “lasting and traumatic impact” on the woman.
Judge Gucciardo noted that Omer showed little contrition, saying that he exhibited little evidence of contrition or remorse for his conduct.
Despite Omer’s impressive character references from friends, which described him as a humanitarian, the Judge emphasized the severity of his crime.
“That compassion was at odds with the crime he committed, which deprived his children of their mother’s care,” the judge is reported having said by the ABC.
Omer’s sentence includes time already served, and he may be eligible for parole after an effective three years and three months behind bars.
