Brazilian human trafficking victim Daniela Marys de Oliveira, 35, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for drug possession in Cambodia. Daniela’s family claims that the Brazilian’s luggage contained a substance not specified by local authorities.
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— She was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with the possibility of an appeal. The UFMG Legal Clinic, which supports and advises us, is already aware of this incident and will make all the necessary preparations because my sister is innocent and has been wronged there. We can never forget that she was the victim of a human trafficking scheme, says Daniela’s sister Lorena, who claims to have turned to Itamaraty for help in the case.
Daniela’s sister, Lorena Oliveira, said her family was only informed that three capsules had been seized from Daniela’s belongings. She has been detained at Banti Meanchey State Prison for eight months.
Earlier this year, the Brazilian woman informed her family that she had been offered a job working in telemarketing in Cambodia. The contract he was promised was a temporary one for six months to a year, after which he intended to return to Brazil. Daniela left for Cambodia on January 30th.
— When she arrived, she sent us the location. We started to think it was very strange. It was a complex far from the capital, close to the Thai border, says Daniela’s sister Lorena, and as soon as she entered there they took away her passport. There was no way for her to get out. There’s no commerce, there’s no roads, there’s nothing.
Lorena said new victims of the scheme arrived at the facility during February. Training for the job began in March, and Daniela de Oliveira found herself forced to commit fraud online. She refused to remain there and asked to leave, but was warned that she would have to pay a fine. Daniela’s family claims that drugs were placed in the Brazilian’s luggage after the incident.
Lorena said that within two days of Daniela’s arrest, her family began to be blackmailed by criminals posing as her sister. Approximately 27,000 reais went to the criminals.
— They took all of her belongings, including her cell phone. Using it, they started sending us messages pretending to be her. They said they had to pay a fine. Due to a spelling mistake, we realized it wasn’t her and asked intimate questions – says Lorena.
It wasn’t until March 29th that the family was able to speak with the architect. Daniela reported what had happened in the past few days and said she had asked to take a toxicology test but was refused. In prison, she faces difficulties communicating as she does not speak the local language, but a local NGO has found a lawyer to represent her at her trial next week.
The family is currently holding a virtual fundraiser to help the Brazilian woman return home. The goal is to raise R$60,000 to pay lawyers, travel expenses and purchase basic supplies.
When contacted, Itamaraty said he was aware of the incident and that the Brazilian embassy in Bangkok was monitoring it.
“The embassy is working with the Cambodian government to provide appropriate consular assistance to Brazilian nationals in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures for Assistance to Brazilian Victims of International Trafficking,” the memo said.
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