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Sydney Man Charged with Exit Trafficking over Woman's Visa Cancellation
A 44-year-old Sydney man was arrested on Sept 30 and charged with "exit trafficking" after allegedly impersonating a woman online to cancel her Australian visa and return flight while she was visiting family in Egypt.
Why it matters
"Exit trafficking" — forcing or deceiving someone into leaving Australia — is a hidden and chronically under-reported crime. This rare prosecution shows how it can unfold entirely through digital impersonation, without the victim realising until her visa and flight are gone.
Full report
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested 44-year-old Karim Mehelmi at a home in Ryde, northern Sydney, on Wednesday, Sept 30. Police allege he trafficked a woman he knew out of Australia: before she travelled to Egypt in November 2024 to visit family, Mehelmi had begun the process of cancelling her visa; while she was overseas, he cancelled her return flight and unlawfully accessed her online accounts, impersonating her to complete the visa cancellation. Officers seized three mobile phones and a laptop in the search.
Mehelmi was charged with causing another person to exit Australia by coercion, threat or deception under section 271.2(1A) of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum of 12 years' imprisonment, as well as identity fraud offences carrying up to 5 years.
On Thursday afternoon, Oct 1, he was granted bail in the NSW bail court on conditions including surrendering his Australian and expired Egyptian passports, not going to any international airport, and handing over passwords to all electronic devices; he returns to court in December. Judge Daniel Covington granted bail citing his lack of criminal record, warning that any breach would see him remanded in custody.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Morag McGowan said exit trafficking was a hidden crime that was often under-reported.
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