Three local businessmen and an Indian national involved in an illegal human trafficking scam have appeared in court.

Three local businessmen, Rohit Prasad Trivedi, Satnam Singh and Surendra Menon, and Indian national Sridha Nimmagadda have been charged with eight counts of trafficking in person.

The three locals were granted $250 cash bail with strict conditions and have been ordered to report to the police station every Wednesday between 6am to 6pm, not to interfere with any witnesses and have been ordered to surrender their passports while the Indian national has been remanded in immigration custody.

The case has been adjourned to the 29th of this month to allow the accused to engage legal counsel.

The four are allegedly involved in the human trafficking scheme which resulted in the arrest of 13 Indian nationals.

Fijivillage has now established that the major scam involves some people in India who lure people who want to leave their country for a better future.

These people are then linked up with a company in Fiji.

The Fiji company then arranges the Indian nationals to come into the country with promises made to the Indians that they will receive the necessary permits and be given jobs.