A chef has been remanded in custody charged with trafficking and controlling his wife as a prostitute over a ten-year period.
The 55-year-old Chinese national appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court today after being detained at Heathrow Airport in London.
Detectives from the PSNI's Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit carried out the arrest on Monday.
The accused is not being named to protect the alleged victim's identity.
Entering the dock in handcuffs, he faced counts of controlling prostitution for gain and trafficking within the UK for purposes of exploitation.
Speaking through an interpreter, he said: "I understand."
The alleged offences were committed at locations in Northern Ireland between 2003 and 2013.
A detective constable involved in the investigation confirmed she could connect him to the charges.
Defence solicitor Stewart Evans revealed: "This is a husband and wife scenario - the alleged injured party is (the accused's) wife."
Mr Evans told the court he was not seeking bail at this stage for his client, who worked as a chef before his arrest.
District Judge Peter King remanded the accused in custody to appear again by video-link on February 21.
