FAQ: Theft of documents

I handed my documents to my girlfriend because she promised me that she would help get me a job. However, she did not return. Can she do that?

No. When a person does not return the documents to the owner after being asked, he or she is committing of crime of document theft. Being a victim of this crime, you can file a report to the police, and any authority can then help you or can accompany you to retrieve your documents.

This may indicate a practice of more serious crimes, such as human trafficking. If the documents are withheld in an attempt to coerce you to work in occupations that you do not wish for, to do something you do not want to do, to help bring other people to work in these occupations, to stay in your house and not leave, or other reasons related to these indicators, then there are reasons to believe that you have been a victim of human trafficking. 

My boss told me that he will not return my passport until I’ve worked a period of six months. Is this also a crime?

Yes. Employers cannot retain the documents of employees. Also in this case, care must be taken to handle the occurrence of a more serious crime.