The Australian Federal Police have charged an Indian-origin man with trafficking his wife and a two-month-old daughter from Sydney to India. Police have confirmed the man is an Australian citizen.
He appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday morning where it was alleged that he forced his wife and two-month-old daughter to travel to India and then attempted to prevent them from returning to Australia.
"If I don't get my wife back I'll set fire to the whole world," he yelled in Hindi.
"Yes I am (a human trafficker), I sell human organs," he added in English, before pushing past cameras and running down the street.
An anti-slavery group tipped off the Australian Federal Police in May following reports that 27-year-old Lohan used coercion, threats and deception to force his Indian-born wife and Australian-born child to go to India in March, reports.
"He has used coercion here in Australia to force the victims to do acts against their wills to get them to India," Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
The man also allegedly gave false information to the immigration department in an attempt to cancel his wife's visa and his daughter's passport while they were in India.
Det Supt Evans said that could have stopped them re-entering Australia but the mother and daughter were able to return to Sydney before their paperwork was cancelled.
"He made acts to ensure they could not return," he said.
"It's a disturbing case when we see a victim and their young child transported from Australia to a foreign jurisdiction without any means for them to return home."
The man was charged by the AFP in November with one count of trafficking persons exiting Australia, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 years.
He's also charged with using a forged document and general dishonesty.
He did not enter a plea and his bail was continued on Tuesday. He will return to court on December 19.
His wife and his daughter are being cared for by immigration officials.
