Couple who enslaved woman for eight years have home sale proceeds forfeited
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
A couple who enslaved a woman for eight years have had the proceeds of the sale of their home forfeited and have been ordered to pay $140,000 in combined penalties.
In 2016, the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the AFP restrained the Mount Waverly house after the couple was charged with slavery offences.
The couple - a 61-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman - were each found guilty in a 2021 jury trial and were sentenced to imprisonment for enslaving an Indian woman who had entered Australia on a tourist visit.
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The couple were found guilty of possessing a slave and exercising over a slave powers attaching to the right of ownership.
The woman was sentenced to eight years with parole eligibility in four years, and the man was sentenced to six years with parole eligibility in three years.
The house was sold for $1.4 million in 2016.
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After paying the mortgage and sale expenses, the couple's equity in the property of about $475,000 was held by the Official Trustee and restrained before it was forefeited in 2022.
Around $485,000 was granted to the victim as an ex gratia payment.
The CACT also applied for pecuniary penalty orders against the couple for the benefits they derived from enslaving the woman.
"This result highlights the unique breadth of the CACT's work in targeting a wide range of criminal activity, including forced labour, and the importance of the Commonwealth's Proceeds of Crime Act in preventing offenders from benefiting from their crimes," National Manager Criminal Assets Confiscation, Fraud and Corruption, Stefan Jerga said.
"The successful outcome of this case is a testament to the dedication of the CACT's highly skilled and determined lawyers and investigators."
On October 9, the couple agreed to pay a combined pecuniary penalty of $140,000, in addition to the forfeited equity and accrued interest.
"If you hold a person in domestic servitude, or commit other human trafficking offences, our investigators will work tirelessly to ensure offenders are found, put before the courts and remove victims from harm," Human Trafficking Southern Command Team Leader Detective Sergeant Daisie Beckensall said.
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