An Eritrean man accused of running a human trafficking ring in which migrants were tortured faces judgment in a Dutch court in one of the largest cases of its kind.

Prosecutors accuse the man, identified as Amanuel W., of spearheading a group involved in what they described as “human trafficking of the most horrific nature,” from Eritrea via Libya to Europe.

They accuse the defendant of leading a criminal organisation with the intent to commit human trafficking, extortion, hostage-taking, and sexual offences.

“He (Amanuel W.) deprived the victims of their freedom and dignity,” the public prosecutor argued in court. “He held them in appalling conditions, starved them, tortured them, and denied them essential medical care.”

Prosecutors say that only after family members had transferred money were the victims put on rickety boats for the trip across the Mediterranean Sea. Many drowned during the crossing.

The suspect has not made substantive comments in court, except to deny the charges. He says it is a case of mistaken identity.

His lawyers have also argued that he has already been tried in Ethiopia on largely the same allegations and therefore cannot be tried again. The defendant has been in custody in the Netherlands since October 2022.

There are a total of seven suspected human traffickers on trial in the case, which prosecutors say is the largest such trial ever heard in the Netherlands.

Prosecutors believe the court has jurisdiction because family members based in the Netherlands were extorted, often for thousands of euros.

They are asking the court to sentence Amanuel W. to 20 years.