Istiak appeared in court before Magistrate Abigail Critien after being arrested at his restaurant, during which he briefly claimed medical distress before being formally charged. Prosecution inspectors John Spiteri and Ryan Mario Vella, alongside Attorney General representatives Ramon Bon Sladen and Sharmaine Abdilla, presented evidence alleging that Istiak lured Bangladeshi migrants to Malta under promises of restaurant employment, only to subject them to unpaid labor, document falsification, and restricted freedom. Victims reported working for over four months without receiving compensation, with one dishwasher stating he received no pay while being coerced into signing documents waiving wages. The court rejected bail applications submitted by defense lawyers Nicholas Mifsud and Nicole Falzon due to risks of witness tampering within the local Bangladeshi community, issuing a comprehensive freezing order on Istiak's assets alongside protection orders for the victims.