Denmark trial: Up to four years in prison sought for alleged forced labor in nail salons

A Danish court is hearing a human trafficking case involving eight Vietnamese women allegedly forced to work under slave-like conditions in nail salons in Farum and Hørsholm.

The prosecution is seeking prison sentences of three and a half to four years for the primary defendant, a 39-year-old Vietnamese woman who has lived in Denmark for nine years. Nordsjællands Police claim the women worked at least 12-hour days without pay for the first four months. Their salaries, between 5,000 and 7,300 kroner monthly, were reportedly sent to their families in Vietnam by the employer, who also controlled their bank accounts and debit cards.

The case involves three defendants, including the main suspect's older sister and another man. If found guilty, it would mark a new precedent, as previous human trafficking convictions in Denmark have primarily involved sex workers.

However, the defense attorneys have requested acquittals for the accused. The lawyer for the 39-year-old defendant emphasized that no violence or threats were used against the employees. "The evidence in the case shows something completely different from human trafficking. It was a business that did not have control over Danish rules. There was chaos in the economy," stated lawyer Jens Lang Rask.

The court is expected to deliver its verdict next Tuesday.

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The evidence in the case shows something completely different from human trafficking. It was a business that did not have control over Danish rules. There was chaos in the economy.