The eight Croatian nationals detained in Zambia on suspicion of attempted child trafficking will be released on bail once they have met the set conditions, a court in Ndola ruled on Tuesday, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs confirmed to the Croatian state news agency Hina.
The four couples were first arrested at the airport of Ndola, Zambia’s third largest city, in early December on suspicion of child trafficking and document forgery. The authorities suspect that the documents on the adoption of four minor children from the Democratic Republic of Congo are not authentic.
The children, who have Croatian documents, have been placed in the care of Zambian social services.
After the court dropped the charges and ordered them to leave the country, the couples were arrested again last week at the airport where immigration authorities had in the meantime issued a new indictment. This time an immigration officer at Ndola Airport was also indicted.
At the hearing on Tuesday, Judge Jene Bwala ruled that the Croatians can be released on bail once they have fulfilled the set conditions. The defendants were ordered to hand over their passports, post bail, and provide proof of temporary residence in Zambia.
The next hearing is set for March 1.
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