Theolin Tembo|Published25 minutes agoHusband and wife to remain in custody for Thai job scam

Yolanda and Adam Douglas, face allegations of human trafficking in connection with a job scam. A husband and wife duo made their first appearance in the Bellville Magistrates Court on Monday, facing four counts of human trafficking. Yolanda and Adam Douglas were arrested by the Hawks’ Western Cape Economic Protected Resources team on Saturday for allegedly luring four victims with a fraudulent job opportunity in Thailand, where they were subsequently held against their will.

The two alleged perpetrators will remain in police custody until Thursday after the matter was postponed due to their bail profile still being outstanding. They will return to court for a formal bail application. National Spokesperson Authority (NPA) spokesperson in the Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila, said that the charges correlate to cases dating back to 2024 and 2025, where the State alleges that they recruited young people from the Scottsdene, Kraaifontein area with promises of jobs in Thailand.

“The victims would be recruited and promised free accommodation, free meals, work permits and visas where they would be paid between $450 and $500 plus a commission. And when they get there in Thailand, they would be transported to Cambodia, where they worked in a call centre, and then they would be asked to scam (people), making calls to South Africa.” The courtroom where husband and wife, Yolanda and Adam Douglas, made their first appearance in the Bellville Magistrates Court on Monday.