Two men have appeared in court accused of exploiting foreign workers in rural Perthshire and threatening them and their families if they go to the police.
Stelian Neacsu and Petrica Obreja deny being gangmasters to at least 10 people at locations across Blairgowrie.
The pair were charged under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015.
Neacsu, 55, of Worriston Street, Glasgow, and Obreja, 39, of High Street, Perth, both pled not guilty.
Obreja has tabled a special defence of incrimination.
Allegations
It is alleged that between January 1 2019, and April 30 2021, Neacsu and Obreja recruited at least 10 foreign nationals and arranged contracts for them with Coupar Angus-based employment agency Ringlink.
According to court papers, one of the alleged victims has since died.
The two men are accused of transporting the group to various locations for agricultural work.
Prosecutors claim the individuals were exploited and made victims of conduct which breaches human trafficking legislation.
It is alleged Neacsu and Obreja induced them to work through “threats, force or deception” and overcharged them for accommodation, utilities and cleaning, while charging them for transportation to working farms.
The pair are accused of withholding money due to the workers by Ringlink and charging them to submit timesheets to the company on their behalf.
It is further alleged that they altered and destroyed timesheets before they handed them to Ringlink.
Inducements
Neascu and Obreja are also accused of “seeking inducements in the form of gifts and financial payments to secure further work” and threatening the alleged victims and their families not to speak to police.
The two men face a second charge that, between January 1 and April 30 last year, they acted as gangmasters in that they supplied workers to various agricultural sites without a licence.
According to the charge, the exploitation took place at several locations around Blairgowrie, including properties at Jessie Street, Altamont Park, Leslie Street and Coralbank Crescent.
