The alleged ringleader of a syndicate that lured vulnerable women and girls from Indonesian slums to work in Sydney brothels has been granted bail, after a police operation to break up the network.
Surya Subekti left a Sydney court on Tuesday under the condition he not go within 500 metres of a brothel or access the internet.
The 43-year-old Sydney man is accused of acting as the group's "onshore facilitator" and has been charged with allegedly trafficking a 17-year-old girl from Indonesia.
Another woman remains under arrest for luring women from the southeast Asian country under the guise they would be able to study in Australia.
About 20 brothels across Sydney and the NSW Central Coast are believed to be linked to the syndicate's activities, which police allege involves multiple victims.
Australian Federal Police Commander Kate Ferry said at least nine women were alleged to have been brought to Australia on tourist visas to work in brothels under dreadful conditions.
Seven have since been removed from the sexual exploitation ring across NSW, while a number of other female foreign nationals have been identified as potential victims of human trafficking.
Police will allege there were another six women in Jakarta being prepared to be trafficked to Australia for sexual exploitation.
It's also alleged the woman under arrest in Indonesia enrolled victims at an education provider in Sydney to prolong their stay in Australia.
"They were further exploited to work in the sex industry instead of attending their enrolled tertiary education," Ms Ferry said.
Investigators had struggled to get the victims to talk.
"There's a huge power disparity between the victims of this crime and the perpetrators," Ms Ferry said.
"They come from vulnerable situations in their home country.
"Sometimes they do not have faith in police or they're scared.
"They're frightened and a lot of them don't speak English either."
The investigation began in December 2022 when Australian Federal Police received information alleging foreign nationals were arriving in Australia and being forced into sexual servitude in breach of their visa conditions.
Ms Ferry said she was confident the "well established" criminal syndicate has been disrupted.
Subekti, from Arncliffe in Sydney's south, is alleged to have been working as the onshore facilitator for the recently arrived women after working with a woman in Jakarta who was allegedly recruiting victims.
He was charged with one count of trafficking in children, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
Appearing in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, Subekti was granted bail under the condition he is not to contact or be in the company of any person under the age of 18, excluding his own children or if his wife is present.
He is not to go within 500 metres of a licensed brothel or use or be in possession of any mobile telephone or electronic device capable of internet connection.
He is set to face the same court on September 20.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
