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Nine people linked to a pornography business will stand trial in the Czech Republic on human trafficking charges after prosecutors accused them of promising young women false modeling opportunities before coercing them into appearing in pornographic films.
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The defendants face up to 12 years in prison if convicted, according to Prague city prosecutors.
“The accused include people organizing the Czech Casting project, as well as people ensuring finances, casting production and agreements,” prosecutor’s office spokesman Aleš Cimbala said.
He added that photographers, camera operators and actors were also among those charged.
The defendants deny the charges and Czech news provider Brno Daily reported defense will state that the women consented to the filming and had signed contracts clearly specifying the content of the videos.
Investigators allege the group advertised modeling jobs for women aged over 18 between 2016 and 2019, but the offers concealed the true purpose of the recruitment.
“Detectives concluded that these offers were nothing more than a veil for the production and subsequent distribution of pornographic films,” the Czech organized crime unit (NCOZ) said.
Authorities said the women suffered serious consequences after taking part.
“Many manifested psychological and health problems and had to seek medical aid including long-term treatment,” the NCOZ said, adding that hundreds of women were believed to have been affected.
The case of the State Prosecutors’ Bureau focuses on 18 women who it has identified as victims. According to Cimbala, prosecutors will claim organizers subjected the victims to increasing pressure during the recruitment process.
“At casting, the organizers created the impression of a rush or played down the importance of the agreements signed” in order to secure the women’s consent, he said.
The indictment runs to 629 pages.
Prague has long been a center for the adult entertainment industry. After the 1989 Velvet Revolution ended communist rule in former Czechoslovakia, relaxed censorship laws and the transition to a market economy attracted pornography producers to the country.
Additional sources • AFP