Back in June 2018, police received disturbing reports from three female workers that their employer, Chinese businessman Jin Zhou Wu, was holding their travel documents against their will. The women, all Central Americans, further claimed that Wu, who had trafficked them into Belize, had forced them into prostitution. Based on reports of the victims, who indicated that Wu was running a bar in Bella Vista, Toledo, police were able to intercept and apprehend him. An investigation was caried out and on October 15, 2020, Wu was formally arrested and charged by police. The 41-year-old businessman of Calcutta, Corozal was charged with three counts of trafficking in person. Based on additional directives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Wu was additionally charged with three counts of trafficking in person to wit, compelling victims to prostitute.
For these charges, Wu was arraigned in the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until December 16, 2020.
