Irish man accused of human trafficking while working with refugees in Greece

A Cork man has handed himself over to Greek authorities over claims that he was involved in human trafficking.

A young Irish man who flew to Greece to aid with the refugee crisis has handed himself over to Greek authorities over claims that he has been involved in human trafficking.

Sean Binder, 24, was first arrested in February 2018 on the island of Lesbos where he had been volunteering with Emergency Response Centre International. Although allowed to return to Ireland on several occasions since then, the Corkman handed himself over to police in Greece on Monday after his colleague Sarah Mardini was detained.

He could now face 20 years on a Greek prison over claims that while volunteering, he was also involved in human trafficking, money laundering, espionage and being a member of a criminal organization.

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It has been confirmed by police that 30 members of Emergency Response Centre International are being investigated on suspicion of smuggling migrants into Greece, spying and laundering money.

"I don't know what to do, how to be, I can't sleep, I've taken time off work - my son is a good man,” his mother Fanny told the Irish Independent.

"Sean went out to Lesbos to help refugees, as he wants to work in a humanitarian field and he's not done anything wrong.

"Now he's facing going to prison and I'm really worried for him - he's a college boy, not someone who should be going to prison for something he didn't do.

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Mother of Cork man arrested in Greece on human trafficking charges appeals to Irish authorities https://t.co/6piO5MeMSL pic.twitter.com/pZCI2cZLEf

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 31, 2018

"He's been working for an NGO on Lesbos since last autumn and they mostly work in migrant camps, volunteering, giving medical help and education to children, washing blankets and everything that needs to be done in a camp,” she added.

"Sean got interested in helping those fleeing conflict because it is part of his heritage.

"His father, Van Khon, was a Vietnamese refugee who fled to Germany, where I met him, after the Vietnam War."

As he was born in Germany, his family has been told that he is technically not an Irish citizen when they sought help from the government, despite having lived in the country since he was five. 

H/T: Cork Examiner