By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The people smuggling and prostitution case 14-day trial concluded on Tuesday with the prosecution and defense lawyers presenting their closing arguments.
A decision is expected to be out next week, according to one of the defense lawyers.
Defense lawyers said the incident was not a people trafficking case because it lacked the criminal intent for the defendants to commit trafficking.
Assistant Attorney General Erin Johnson meanwhile said that people trafficking is a "ugly, dirty crime" especially if the defendants were paid to recruit the employees.
Earlier the Attorney General’s Office filed advancing prostitution, people smuggling charges against the owners of the bar following allegations by former employees that they were forced into prostitution.
In their complaint, the women were reportedly tricked into working in Palau and that they were allegedly fined or threatened physically if they refuse to have sex with their customers.
Mark Doran, defense lawyer of defendant Katherine Manio said that allegations of the former employees that they were forced to have sex with the bar’s customers lack merits.
He cited 17 PNC 3602(d) or the law in prostitution which he stressed cites that there should be a sexual contact or sexual penetration.
H said in his closing argument that the employees were reportedly forced to "have sex" but did their testimonies did not mention of any "sexual contact or sexual penetration."
Johnson Toribiong , Lolita Pamentuan’s lawyer said that his client did not commit people trafficking and only acted as a recruiter to bring the girls to Palau.
People trafficking case carries a maximum penalty of 25 years and a fine of $250,000. Exploiting carries a term of 50 years and $50,000 penalty.