The Ghent division of the East Flanders Court of First Instance has convicted 33 defendants in the Lotus case for human trafficking with aggravating circumstances and leadership or participation in a criminal organisation. The organisation recruited more than 100 financially vulnerable Chinese women and exploited them in prostitution in Belgium and other European countries. Four defendants were also convicted of human trafficking resulting in the death of a victim. Prison sentences of up to seven years, fines and confiscation orders were imposed.