News Centre

Editor’s note: Video grabs of AFP Commander Raegan Stewart are available via Hightail.

A Shepparton woman was sentenced today (29 July, 2024) to three years imprisonment for orchestrating the forced marriage of her 20-year-old daughter, who later became the victim of a homicide in Western Australia.

This sentence marks the first successful conviction and sentencing for forced marriage in Australian history.

The investigation began in 2019 when specialist AFP Human Trafficking Team detectives met with the victim, who alleged members of her family were threatening and coercing her into participating in a forced marriage.

She was offered police intervention, protection, and emergency safety planning.  For wellbeing support, including alternative accommodation, she was referred to the Red Cross Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP) on a number of occasions.

The court found the 20-year-old woman was eventually coerced into marrying a West Australian man in a ceremony held in Shepparton, Victoria, in August, 2019.

The AFP alleged the woman did not freely consent to this marriage, after which she travelled to Western Australia to live with her new husband.

In January 2020, the Western Australian Police Force Homicide Squad confirmed the death of the victim and subsequently charged her husband, 25, -with murder. He was  convicted and sentenced to a minimum 19 years’ imprisonment.

In October 2020, the AFP executed search warrants in Shepparton, Victoria in relation to the forced marriage . The AFP subsequently charged the victim’s mother with orchestrating the forced marriage, under section 270.7B (1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

The woman, 48, appeared before Shepparton Magistrates’ Court and was subsequently bailed to reappear at a later date.

In May 2024, the woman was found guilty at trial in the Melbourne County Court of causing a person to enter a forced marriage. She was sentenced today (29 July, 2024) to three years imprisonment with 12 months to be served before being released on own recognisance.

This was the second case where an individual had been charged with this offence in Victoria.

Forced marriage is a form of human trafficking and is criminalised under the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

AFP Commander Raegan Stewart said Australia was not immune to forced marriages, with this crime type often under-reported as people were unaware they may be victims, or were scared about the impact on their family situation.

“The investigation would not have been possible without the assistance of members of the community, including many witnesses who came forward to police despite community and cultural barriers,” Commander Stewart said.

“The number of human trafficking complaints to the AFP is on the rise, with the AFP receiving 340 reports of offences – 90 being forced marriage allegations – across the 2022-23 financial year.

“It is a crime type we know is underreported and we hope this conviction highlights how seriously the AFP takes these matters, and its commitment to bringing perpetrators before the courts.” If you or someone you know is being forced to marry and you need immediate assistance, you can call 131 AFP (237) or use our online form to report information regarding human trafficking.

Additional resources

• Australian Red Cross Support for Trafficked People Program
• Support for victims of forced marriage is also available on the My Blue Sky website.