A Moroccan court has sentenced Nabil Moafik to five years in prison and imposed a fine of $107,300 for his involvement in a human trafficking case.

This ruling marks the first instance where someone has been held accountable for bringing individuals to work in scam compounds in Asia, specifically Myanmar.

The case revolves around several young Moroccans who were drawn by online job advertisements promising high pay in Thailand.

Instead, they found themselves trafficked over 9,300 miles (14,966 kilometers) from home, where they were forced to engage in online fraud and scams.

Moafik, the defendant, denied the charges against him, referring to human trafficking as a 'crime against humanity' that he would not commit.

He claimed his role was merely that of a job mediator and stated he received varying amounts for each person he recruited.

According to court documents provided by attorneys, some victims testified in court about the torture and degrading treatment they endured in Myanmar.

They managed to secure their release after paying ransoms in cryptocurrency.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry has previously reported securing the release of 34 Moroccan citizens trafficked to online scam centers in Myanmar.

However, it did not respond to AP's questions regarding the total number of Moroccans affected by such trafficking operations.

This case is one among several being pursued globally and through Moroccan courts as part of efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly in relation to online scams.

The United Nations has noted that approximately 120,000 individuals are currently trapped in scam centers worldwide.