The St. Gallen Tagblatt reported on September 28, 2026, on a ruling by the St. Gallen District Court. A woman from Colombia had testified to police that she had been brought to Kreuzlingen and forced to work as a sex worker to pay off debts. The accused operator of an adult entertainment business denied the accusations in court and stated he did not know the woman. The judge acquitted him—citing, among other reasons, inadequate investigations in the industry. The presumption of innocence applies; the acquittal says nothing about what the woman experienced, but rather about what the proceedings were able to prove.
What This Means for the Industry
The pattern described—travel, placement, and accommodation are advanced and must subsequently be „worked off“—is one of the most common pressure tactics in the sex industry. It is not a fringe phenomenon, but particularly affects women who are new to Switzerland, don’t speak the language, and know no one except through the business.
The case above all demonstrates one thing: whether a statement holds up in court depends heavily on whether investigations were conducted early and properly. Those who document pressure, payments, or room debts—payment receipts, chat histories, photos of billing statements, data and names of witnesses—significantly improve their own position. Important to know: cantonal victim support is free, accessible regardless of a conviction and even without filing a criminal complaint. Specialized services for sex workers will accompany you to the police if desired and provide translation, and preliminary consultation does not preclude filing a report later. This step is often missing when one statement stands against another.
An acquittal based on insufficient evidence is legally correct and yet signals something to everyone considering fighting back. All the more reason it matters that those affected have contact with a specialized service before escalation occurs.
What experiences have you had when you reported abuse or fraud in your workplace—was there a proper investigation?