VICTORIA, Seychelles — A 76-year-old Bangladeshi national, Nizzam Uddin Ahmed, was sentenced for trafficking in persons by the Supreme Court on April 21. Although he was convicted on six counts of the offence, the court opted not to impose an immediate custodial sentence, due to his age and medical conditions. Mr Ahmed, who has lived in Seychelles since 2017 and was previously operating as an investor, was found guilty of trafficking six Bangladeshi nationals for labour exploitation. He was convicted on November 9, 2017, after pleading not guilty and standing trial.
The victims, all Bangladeshi men, reported poor living conditions, threats, and unfulfilled promises by Mr Ahmed. According to the court, some victims had to sleep on the floor due to a lack of bedding and had very limited access to food. Many of them had taken out loans in order to pay for their GOP (gainful occupation permit), which Mr Ahmed promised to reimburse but never did. In sentencing Mr Ahmed, Chief Justice Rony Govinden took into account both the seriousness of the offences and the personal circumstances of the accused.
“Given Mr Ahmed’s age (76 years) combined with his multiple chronic health issues… imprisonment poses significant increased health risks,” stated the judgment. The court acknowledged that Mr Ahmed suffers from several medical conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and osteoarthritis affecting his knees and back. Despite the severity of the charges, Mr Ahmed was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on each count, suspended for two years. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time if activated. The court imposed financial penalties as compensation to the victims. Mr Ahmed was ordered to pay a total of R145,500 to the six victims by May 9, 2025.
