An Indian-origin couple in Australia has faced fresh penalties after already serving prison sentences for enslaving a woman for eight years. Kandasamy Kannan, 61, and his wife Kumuthini, 58, must now forfeit proceeds from their house and pay AUD 140,000 (USD 90,874) in combined fines.
Background of the Case
The couple was convicted in 2021 for enslaving an Indian woman who came to Melbourne from Tamil Nadu on a one-month tourist visa in 2007. Kandasamy received six years and Kumuthini eight years in prison for their crimes.
Property Forfeiture and Fines
AFP’s Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce restrained the couple’s Mount Waverley home in 2016. The house later sold for AUD 1.4 million. After debts and expenses, authorities held AUD 475,000 in equity. The property was officially forfeited in 2022, and additional fines were imposed this year.
Ex-Gratia Payment to Victim
In 2023, the victim received AUD 485,000 as an ex-gratia payment. This year, the court ordered Kumuthini to pay AUD 100,000 and Kandasamy AUD 40,000 on top of the forfeited assets, reflecting the severity of their actions.
Victim’s Ordeal
The woman’s passport was taken on arrival in Australia, and for eight years, she worked without pay performing household chores and caring for the couple’s children. She was rarely allowed outside and endured both physical and verbal abuse.
Discovery and Investigation
In July 2015, paramedics found her barely conscious, weighing only 40 kilograms, suffering from severe infections and untreated diabetes. The couple misled doctors and police, triggering a human trafficking investigation that led to their arrest in 2016 after the victim’s family contacted the Indian High Commission.
Significance of the Case
This case remains one of Australia’s most disturbing modern slavery prosecutions. It highlights how human trafficking and exploitation can occur even in ordinary suburban homes, serving as a stark reminder of hidden abuses in domestic settings.
