The mother is really very affected, I don’t even have to describe to you what it is like when the daughter and her family are in prison, especially in prison somewhere so far away and without direct contact. It is very difficult for her to learn information from the media, says Sandra Marković, the lawyer for the families of those detained in Zambia, in an interview with RTL Danas.
The Zambian portal Mwebantu published photos of eight arrested Croatian citizens who traveled to Africa in December to adopt children. Today, they were in court for the first time, where the indictment was read to them.
The lawyer believes that everything was done in accordance with Croatian laws.
– We have documentation from Croatian courts, we have translated documentation, certified – there is no reason to doubt the credibility of anything that is in front of us – adds the lawyer.
After the indictment was read to them accusing them of attempting to traffic people, that is, children, they all said that they understood the indictment and declared that they did not feel guilty. The hearing was adjourned, and a new hearing will be held on Thursday.
The detained Croats asked to be released on bail, which will be decided by the court.
We remind you that on December 7, the Zambian police arrested four couples from Croatia on suspicion of human trafficking. They were intercepted together with the children. One is one year and three months old, and the other three are three years old. Zambian media reported that immigration officials at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe airport arrested four couples of Croatian origin following a tip-off, and that the adoption documents issued by the Congolese authorities appeared to be forged.