Viticulturalists prosecuted for treating human beings

The Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne) court is preparing to host an extraordinary trial, Thursday, June 19. On the defendant’s bench, three individuals and two wine production companies are prosecuted for multiple chargesincluding human trafficking and hidden work. Faced with them, 57 undocumented victims. In September 2023, they were recruited to harvest in the Marne, but once arrived on site, the reception conditions were deplorable.

“Many people fell ill. We asked for a doctor, they said ‘no doctor’. There was no current, no water”recalls Sama Djamala, victim. In plots, labor law is flouted and threats are made against those who would like to rebel. “They wait for (…) the authors to be sanctioned, the people who threatened them with weapons”says Maxime Cessieux, lawyer for several civil parties. The three defendants face maximum sentences of seven years in prison and 150,000 euros fine.

Find the entire report in the video above.