SAVITA Persaud, proprietress of the Liquid Love bar on Station Street, Kitty, was on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for trafficking two  Venezuelan women for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Persaud was handed the sentence by the Chief  Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was also ordered to pay $4.5M to the two victims.

The businesswoman was found guilty of the two indictments, which stated that between January 31 and March 8 this year, she recruited, transported and harboured the two Venezuelans  for the purpose of sexually exploiting them at her Station Street, Kitty, premises. One of the victims is 17 years old and Persaud got 10 years for trafficking her.

Initially, Persaud was sentenced to five years, but was given an additional five years in accordance with the Trafficking in Persons Act, Section 8 (1) (c) of chapter 10:06; this section of the Act stipulates an additional five years for underage victims.

The older defendant was sentenced to five years imprisonment, but the sentences will run concurrently.

The chief magistrate also ordered Persaud to pay $2, 223,914.00 to the 17-year-old victim and $2, 399,940.00 to the adult victim as restitution.

The owner of the property, which Persaud rents and operates her business, on Wednesday served her an eviction notice.

In May, Persaud was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for  confiscating the two victims’ immigration documents for the aforementioned purpose and also for employing a child on premises  where intoxicating liquor is sold