Liquid Love bar owner jailed for 12 months, fined $1.1M in human trafficking case

Savita Persaud
Savita Persaud

Savita Persaud, the owner of the Liquid Love Bar located on Station Street, Kitty, who was tried for several offences including trafficking two Venezuelan women for sex, was yesterday sentenced to 12 months in jail and fined $1.1 million.

Persaud was on trial before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was found guilty of all  five charges she faced but was fined and sentenced for only three yesterday. She is expected to be sentenced for the main human trafficking charges next month.

Persaud was found guilty of two charges that between January 31 and March 8, 2019, at Station Street, Kitty, she recruited, transported and harboured the two women for sexual exploitation. Sentencing on these two charges was deferred.

She was also found guilty of two counts of confiscating the Venezuelan women’s immigration documents for the purpose of trafficking and guilty of employing a child on a premises that sells intoxicating liquor. The child is 17 years old.

During yesterday’s court hearing, Persaud learnt that based on the evidence presented, the court had found her guilty of the offences.

Subsequently, she was sentenced to 12 months behind bars and fined $500,000 each, in relation to the charges of withholding immigration documents for the purpose of trafficking. The sentences will run concurrently.

Persaud was also fined $100,000 or a default sentence of five months in jail, in relation to the conviction of employment of a child on a premises that sells alcohol.

The sentencing for the main trafficking matters is expected to be done on June 14th.