[5] Prince Jefri, the brother of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was among those linked to the scandal, in which Ruffa Gutierrez, Vivian Velez, Lea Orosa, Aurora Sevilla, Sheila Israel, Rachel Lobangco, Tetchie Agbayani, Maritoni Fernandez, Gretchen Barretto, and Cristina Gonzales were alleged to be amongst the victims.
[5] In 1997 Shannon Marketic, a former Miss USA, sued Jefri Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei, claiming that she and other women were hired for promotional work but instead were held as "virtual prisoners", drugged and used as a sex slaves.
[12] After 18 months of litigation, a judge dismissed the suit on the grounds that the sultan had sovereign immunity as head of state.
[13] Brunei is a destination and transit country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking.
Retention of migrant workers’ travel documents by employers or agencies remains a widespread practice, although the law prohibits it.