Syrian Brothers Face German Court On Trafficking Charges

(@FahadShabbir)

Syrian brothers face German court on trafficking charges

BERLIN(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) : A German court Monday put on trial two Syrian men who say they are refugees but face charges of being human traffickers responsible for eight deaths on the high seas a year ago.

Prosecutors charge that Ahmad Ghandour, 18, and his brother Fouad, 20, were working with a Kurdish gang of people smugglers who forced refugees aboard an unseaworthy vessel. The gang had allegedly promised to take Iraqi citizens from the Turkish seaside resort of Bodrum to the Greek island of Kos for around $2,500 (2,200 Euros) each, the Cologne court heard.

Prosecutors charge that the migrants had been told they would travel on a yacht but were instead taken by rubber dinghy and prohibited from wearing orange life vests to evade the authorities. The traffickers, including the two brothers, allegedly forced the 17 refugees aboard the boat, using threats of violence, on the night of November 16-17 last year.

The voyage ended in tragedy when the overloaded boat capsized off Kos and at least eight of the passengers died.