An asparagus farmer in jail awaiting her trial on human trafficking charges has been fined €283,000 for employing illegal immigrants.

The council of state upheld a lower court ruling that the woman should be fined for employing large numbers of illegal Polish workers to pick asparagus in 2005 and 2006.
The farmer argued she could not pay the fine because it would ruin her business.
The two cases are not connected.
Illegal workers are common in the market gardening sector because of the low rates of pay and seasonal work.