In the UK, a UN judge was sentenced for keeping a domestic worker in conditions of slavery
United Kingdom judge Lydia Mugambe was sentenced to six years and four months in prison. About this informs BBC Back in March, a British jury found her guilty of exploiting a young woman whom she illegally kept in her own home in Oxfordshire and forced to do unpaid work. This was discussed in messages AP.
50-year-old Mugambe, who at the time of the crime studied at Oxford University and served as a judge of the High Court of Uganda, illegally issued her compatriot a visa allegedly to work in a diplomatic institution in London. In fact, the woman was placed in Mugambe’s private house, where she was forced to work as a maid and nanny without receiving any payment for it.
The investigation proved that Mugambe deliberately misled the young Ugandan woman, abusing her power and status. The victim told the court that she cannot return to her homeland because of fear for her safety and is not sure if she will ever see her mother again.
It was gathered that Lydia Mugambe made contact with the Ugandan High Commission in London to arrange a visa for the woman she later exploited. The visit was officially submitted as work in the household and the diplomat’s office. However, after arriving in Britain, the woman was brought directly to Mugambe’s home, where she was forced to work as a nanny without pay. Her passport and visa were confiscated. The police found out about the situation after the victim asked for help from an acquaintance.
Mugambe pleaded not guilty, but the jury unanimously found her guilty on all counts. These include, in particular, violations of immigration law, forced labor and conspiracy to inflict psychological pressure. After the verdict was announced, the accused began to breathe hard, and the hearing had to be interrupted – she got sick right in the courtroom.
Oxford University said it had launched an internal disciplinary investigation. Representatives of the British police expressed the hope that this sentence will inspire other victims of modern slavery to seek help and legal protection.
