Perth illegal worker trial abandoned

The trial of two Vietnamese brothers accused of running an illegal labour hire workforce at farms and market gardens in Perth has been abandoned.

Minh Canh Le and his younger brother Nhi Van Le are charged with harbouring non-citizens at several properties in Carabooda and Thornlie in 2013 and 2014.

Lien Bich Thi Nguyen, who was the family's cleaner but had an intimate yet non-committed relationship with the older brother, is charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime.

District Court of WA Judge Stephen Scott became concerned about a significant number of telephone calls not being provided, and transcripts would have taken too long to arrange so the trial was abandoned on Thursday, four weeks after it began.

A hearing will be held on Friday next week with a view to scheduling a new trial date.