Saudi princess accused of holding Kenyan servant captive in California appears in court
- 11 years ago
Charged with human trafficking, a Saudi Arabian princess appears in a Santa Ana courtroom on Thursday.
Meshael Alayban is accused of bringing a Kenyan woman to the United States and holding her against her will as a servant in her Irvine home since arriving in May.
Alayban allegedly paid the servant $220 a month while holding her passport and confining her to an apartment to cook, clean, and do laundry almost around the clock.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKUS SAYING:
"The contract was torn up, her visa was confiscated and she was put to work seven days a week, 16 hours a day."i
Prosecutors say the 42-year old princess hired the woman as a domestic servant in her family's palace in Saudi Arabia last year.
Police arrested Alayban after the servant escaped and flagged down a bus driver.
Authorities say they found four Filipino women in the home who also may have had their passports seized by Alayban's family.
Meshael Alayban is accused of bringing a Kenyan woman to the United States and holding her against her will as a servant in her Irvine home since arriving in May.
Alayban allegedly paid the servant $220 a month while holding her passport and confining her to an apartment to cook, clean, and do laundry almost around the clock.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKUS SAYING:
"The contract was torn up, her visa was confiscated and she was put to work seven days a week, 16 hours a day."i
Prosecutors say the 42-year old princess hired the woman as a domestic servant in her family's palace in Saudi Arabia last year.
Police arrested Alayban after the servant escaped and flagged down a bus driver.
Authorities say they found four Filipino women in the home who also may have had their passports seized by Alayban's family.