Police in Dundee are investigating a possible human trafficking ring in Dundee, a court has heard.
In a case at Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday, Sheriff Alistair Brown said what he had heard amounted to one of three possible scenarios one of which was human trafficking.
Arkadiusz Ferensztain, 37, of no fixed abode, pled guilty to two charges of breach of the peace by shouting and swearing at a woman and failing to give his details to the police following an incident in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The court heard an argument had broken out between Ferensztain and a Polish woman living in a flat owned by him.
Sheriff Brown said: “This is one of three things this is either domestic abuse or it is a situation in which this lady is what used to be known as a ‘kept woman’ who has been subjected to abuse or it is a situation where he is trafficking in prostitution and she is his victim in that regard.
“In any of these situations the charge is so serious that bail is not appropriate and therefore you will be remanded in custody.”
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court: “The complainer is 38 years old and she lives at the locus which is a property leased in the accused’s name.
“She states that the relationship between them is that she is employed as a prostitute and further inquiries are ongoing in relation to that.”
The court heard Ferensztain went to the flat on Tuesday evening and the pair were drinking.
Ms Robertson said: “The complainer confronted the accused as she was unhappy about the way he was advertising her.
“He was advertising services she was not willing to provide and she claimed this had led to her being assaulted by clients when she refused.
“This led to an argument and by 2.20am the next day neighbours were awoken by screaming and shouting coming from the locus.”
The police were called and 15 minutes later officers found the woman crying in her underwear in the close area of the block of flats.
They went into the flat and saw signs of a disturbance and found Ferensztain asleep. When they woke him he was under the influence of alcohol and claimed not to speak much English.
He then accused police of entering his property illegally and of breaching his human rights, refusing to give his details and was arrested.
Ms Robertson added: “Further investigations are ongoing about the accusation of him advertising her services.”
Defence solicitor Mike Ferrie said Ferensztain’s version of their relationship was different and that he paid her for sex but did not employ her.
He did confirm the victim lived in Ferensztain’s property.
Mr Ferrie added: “He works as a computer repair man and he also dabbles in website design.”
Sheriff Brown deferred sentence until May 16 for reports and said he hoped that by then there would be some clarification as to the relationship between Ferensztain and his victim.