Curiosity
Saudi Princess Arrested: Meshael Alayban Busted For Human Trafficking
This image provided by the Irvine Police Department shows Meshael Alayban, who was arrested July 9, 2013 in Irvine, Calif., for allegedly holding a domestic servant against her will. (AP / Irvine Police Department)
Santa Ana, CA Police were alerted Tuesday, July 9 when a Kenyan woman holding a suitcase flagged down a bus and reported to a fellow passenger that she was being held against her will as a domestic servant. The passenger helped the 30-year-old woman contact the police.
According to CTV News, questioning revealed that the woman had been held by Saudi Princess, 42-year-old Meshael Alayban since 2012 when she was hired in Kenya. Originally, a contract was drawn up between the two that promised the Kenyan woman wages of $1,600 per month for services to be rendered eight hours per day, five days a week. As soon as the worker arrived in Saudi Arabia, her passport was taken from her.
The Kenyan woman reported to police that once she arrived with the family in California, she was forced to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week doing domestic chores between four condominiums.
When police arrived at Alayban’s condominium, they found four other workers from the Phillippines who voiced their desire to be freed.
An Orange County judge set Alayban’s bail at $5 million and enforced GPS monitoring after she was charged with one count of human trafficking.
Alayban did not show up in the Santa Ana court. Her lawyer disputes the charge calling it a contractual dispute.
A 30-year-old domestic worker from Kenya flagged down a Southern California bus Tuesday, and told a passenger she had been held against her will and believed she was a victim of human trafficking.
On The Web:
Saudi princess arrested in human trafficking case
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/22809776/saudi-princess-arrested-in-human-trafficking-case
Saudi princess arrested in human trafficking case
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/10/saudi-princess-arrested/2507339/
Saudi princess arrested in California in human trafficking investigation
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/saudi-princess-arrested-in-california-in-human-trafficking-investigation-1.1362125