iStockA man accused of trafficking a woman into Scotland for prostitution has gone AWOL.
Ionut-Alexandru Nita is said have arranged for men to have sex with the alleged victim as well as threatened, blackmailed and assaulted her.
It is claimed the 31-year-old transported the woman from Bucharest in Romania.
Prosecutors state he did “harbour” her at a hostel and flat in Glasgow city centre, as well as another property in Aberdeen.
Nita, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, allegedly put adverts online posing as the woman and fixed for men to have sex with her for money.
This was said to have been done “without her agreement”.
It is further stated Nita demanded half of the proceeds from this to be sent to him.
Among other claims are that he took the woman’s mobile phone and tracked her movements, as well as an accusation that he put a camera and microphone in the Glasgow flat.
He is further said to have threatened that he had “intimate images” of her that he would send to her family.
Nita was also allegedly physically violent including claims he brandished a knife, hit her with a mop pole and choked her.
Prosecutors state, by doing all this, he was “aiding, abetting and compelling” prostitution.
Nita should have faced a charge under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.
He was also accused of a separate accusation of running a brothel at the flats in the city and Aberdeen.
The charges spanned between August 2021 and December 2023.
But his defence KC David Moggach said: “I had hoped to appear for him, but sadly he is not here.”
Advocate depute Vish Kathuria then stated to Lord Armstrong: “I ask for a warrant to apprehend.”
The judge went on to grant the warrant for the arrest of Nita.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
