A Trinity graduate is facing 20 years in prison after being arrested in Greece on suspicion of human trafficking.
Sean Binder, 24, from Togher, Cork, and his colleague Sarah Mardini were arrested on the island of Lesbos on suspicion of “human trafficking, money laundering, espionage and being a member of a criminal organisation”, as reported by the Independent.
They both volunteered for the NGO Emergency Response Centre International – a total of 30 people from the organisation were arrested on suspicion of smuggling migrants into Greece, including one of its leaders, Nassos Karakitsos.
Sean handed himself in to police after finding out Sarah had been arrested and they’re both currently being held in a prison outside of Athens. Sarah’s sister Yusra Mardini swam for the Refugee Olympic team in Rio two years ago.
Trinity graduate facing up to 20 years in Greek jail on human trafficking charges – https://t.co/eoXBNWk5wd pic.twitter.com/r9IapGZdF1
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) August 30, 2018
Sean’s mother Fanny, who has flown out to Greece to be with her son, told the Independent:
“I don’t know what to do, how to be, I can’t sleep, I’ve taken time off work – my son is a good man.
Fanny added: “This isn’t Sean. He’s been working for an NGO on Lesbos since last autumn and they mostly work in migrant camps, volunteering, giving medical help and education to children, washing blankets and everything that needs to be done in a camp.”
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