‘Liquid love bar’ owner remanded for allegedly trafficking Venezuelans, employing child

The proprietor of the Liquid Love Bar located at Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan Tuesday accused of trafficking two Venezuelan Nationals and withholding their passports.

Savita Persaud was not required to plea to the two charges, which alleged that between January 31, 2019, and March 8, 2019, at Station Street, Kitty, she recruited, transported and harboured two women for sexual exploitation.

Persaud was also slapped with two additional charges, which alleged that during the same period at the Liquid Love Bar, she knowingly confiscated their immigration documents for the purpose of trafficking.  She pleaded not guilty to these charges.

She was also charged with employing a child on a property that sells liquor to which she pleaded not guilty.

Persaud’s lawyer George Thomas pleaded for bail on the grounds that his client rented the business to the two Venezuelans including the child, who is 17.

He noted that the parties only paid the first month’s rent and owed for two months.

According to the defence Attorney, on March 7, 2019, when Persaud was about to evict the two women, a man paid the money owed.

The lawyer argued that his client was “set-up” and arrested by the Police the following day.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

She was remanded until March 15, 2019.