A Dutch court has sentenced 42-year-old Tewolde Goytom, an Eritrean national who was granted asylum in Ethiopia three years ago, to 20 years in prison for serious offenses against humanity.

Presiding Judge Amanuel Walid handed down the ruling on Tuesday, February 28, 2026, following an investigation into Goytom’s involvement in a criminal organisation responsible for targeting refugees. The court described the acts as “violent, filled with power, and abusive,” affecting vulnerable individuals seeking safety.

Court documents reveal that Goytom had previously attempted to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, exploiting refugees along the route. He was found to have received financial support from family members residing in the Netherlands to sustain the operation.

This case is part of a broader pattern of human trafficking in Ethiopia. Authorities previously prosecuted five similar cases, each resulting in prison sentences, including an 18-year term for related offences.

Goytom was transferred to the Netherlands in October 2015 to face trial. During the proceedings, witnesses clarified that he was not the leader of the broader trafficking network, which facilitated the movement of refugees from Libya into Europe before they were smuggled into the Netherlands and exposed to threats.

The verdict marks a significant judicial response to human trafficking and crimes against humanity linked to refugee exploitation.