Hong Chi, 44, appears at court accused of modern slavery offence

Hong Chi, of Nursery Walk, Worcester, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (June 1), but did not enter a plea. 

Chi is charged with a breach of a slavery and trafficking risk prevention order. 

The charge reads: "Between October 14 and October 18, 2022, (Chi) did things you were prohibited from doing namely employing (a victim) to work at the Happy Garden takeaway restaurant; arranged and provided accommodation for (the victim) above restaurant, and transported her to the restaurant from Foregate Street Station."

TAKEAWAY: Happy Garden, Pitchcroft Lane (Image: Google)

The order was originally made at Worcester Magistrates Court on October 10, 2022.

Magistrates heard there was a joint application by the prosecution and defence for an adjournment.

Gary Harper, defending, explained the defendant had told him that when the order was made there had not been a Mandarin interpreter present at that hearing, despite there being one at all other hearings.

The solicitor said, after his further investigation, the court records also showed this.

Mr Harper explained this may be a defence as someone could not comply with an order they did not know about it.

The solicitor said the prosecution also needed the adjournment to explore this further and see if the charge needed to be withdrawn.

Susan Dowty, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Chi, through the interpreter, to attend the next hearing of the case on June 22.

Chi was given unconditional bail.