by Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, Feb. 7, GNA – Chen Xia, a manager, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly trafficking a Vietnamese to Ghana and compelling her to engage in prostitution.
He is said to have promised the victim a job in the country as a singer but failed.
Xia, 37, and his accomplice, Le Thi Ngoc, currently at large, are being held over charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit human trafficking.
Xia is also being held for allegedly abetting with He Xiao Rei, also known as Nana, a bar attendant, to engage in human trafficking.
Chen Xia is facing an additional charge of human trafficking.
The two have denied the charges preferred against them while the police are on a manhunt for Le Thi Ngoc.
The court, presided over by Mrs Susana Eduful, has remanded the two accused persons into police custody pending the final determination of the case.
It directed the prosecution to file their disclosures and witnesses’ statements to ensure expeditious trial.
The matter has been adjourned to February 18, 2026.
The complainant (name withheld) is a trader and a Vietnamese while Chen Xia, the first accused person, is a Chinese national, Le Thi Ngoc, the second accused (now at large) is Vietnamese, and He Xiao Rei, the third accused person, is a Chinese.
On January 20, 2026, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters received a complaint that the complainant that she recruited by Chen Xia and transported by Le Thi Ngoc from Vietnam to Ghana under the pretext of securing her a job as a singer at KTV located in Tema,
According to the prosecution, on January 20, 2026, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters received a complaint that the complainant had been recruited by Chen Xia and transported by Le Thi Ngoc from Vietnam to Ghana under the pretext of securing her employment as a singer at a KTV facility in Tema.
Upon arrival, however, she was allegedly confined to a room and forced into prostitution.
Police searches in Tema Community 12 led to the arrest of Chen Xia and He Xiao Rei and the rescue of nine other victims.
Exhibits retrieved from the suspects’ apartment included a Toyota Corolla with registration number GT 6402-23, two blue notebooks and nine pieces of condoms.
The complainant was not found at the apartment. During interrogation, He Xiao Rei reportedly informed police that the complainant had been transferred to Wei Ja Na KTV at Labone, Accra.
He Xiao Rei subsequently led police to the location, where the complainant was rescued from a locked room in an apartment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that He Xiao Rei allegedly acted as a pimp, facilitating the movement of the complainant to various locations in Tema and Accra for prostitution, with proceeds amounting to about GH¢50,000 paid to Chen Xia.
Prosecution said investigations were ongoing.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe