In a Melbourne court, a harrowing story unfolded as a mother recounted the disappearance of her husband and two young children during a trip back to Sudan, leaving her devastated and separated from her family for 16 months.
The husband faced a trial by jury in Melbourne’s county court, charged with tricking his wife into leaving Australia after revoking his sponsorship for her visa. Allegations revealed that he orchestrated their return to Australia without her knowledge after she had traveled to Sudan to visit her parents.
According to Crown prosecutor John Saunders, the woman, who had moved to Australia on a partner visa in 2012 after an arranged marriage in Sudan, endured a tumultuous marriage marked by aggression, violence, and control. Saunders detailed how the husband allegedly threatened her life, restricted her communication with others, and coerced her into providing free childcare to his associates.
The prosecution claimed that the husband deliberately misled his wife about the status of her visa while in Sudan, ultimately leaving her stranded without her children. Despite her persistent efforts to regain her visa over the following months, she was repeatedly denied due to her husband’s lack of sponsorship, unbeknownst to the immigration department about her Australian-born children.
Meanwhile, the defense argued that the husband refuted the allegations of deception and contested the events leading up to their trip and the aftermath. According to Defense barrister Brett Stevens, his client firmly denies any intent to deceive.
As the trial unfolds before judge Frank Gucciardo, the court continues to unravel the heartbreaking saga of a mother’s separation from her children, shedding light on the complexities of familial relationships and legal implications surrounding immigration and sponsorship.
