Four alleged Pinay trafficking victims 'rescued' from Saudi princess' California home, UK's Daily Mail reports

Four Filipinas reportedly being held against their will were found and rescued this week from the California house of a Saudi Arabian princess who has been charged with human trafficking.

 

The four were rescued after another domestic helper, a Kenyan, managed to escape and inform police about their plight, UK's The Daily Mail reported Thursday.

 

Charged with one count of human trafficking in California was princess Meshael Alayban, 42, who may face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

 

A bail of $5 million was set for her temporary liberty.

 

"This is not a contract dispute. This is holding someone captive against their will," Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told the court during a bail hearing on Wednesday afternoon, the report said.

 

The Daily Mail said the Saudi Arabian consulate in Los Angeles indicated it will pay the bail.

 

However, Alayban has also been ordered to wear a GPS tracking device, since she is considered a flight risk.

 

Alayban's alleged victim was a 30-year-old Kenyan woman who escaped and flagged down a bus, then told a passenger about her plight. The passenger helped her contact police.

 

The report said the Kenyan was hired in March 2012 via an agency in Kenya. Her passport was allegedly taken from her upon her arrival in Saudi Arabia.

 

During a search on Alayban's Orange County home, the police found the four Filipina servants "allegedly in similar conditions."

 

Investigation showed Alayban, who is married to a member of the ruling al-Saud family of Saudi Arabia, traveled to the United States in May with the Kenyan and the Filipinas.

 

Alayban allegedly gave the passports to the five women at passport control but otherwise kept the passports under lock and key in a bank safe box since they arrived in May.

 

No indication of physical abuse

 

All five women were reportedly in good health, with no indications of physical abuse found on them. They were being assisted in finding housing at a shelter. 

 

The report also said four Filipinas reportedly left the home voluntarily with police once authorities arrived.

 

Irvine police chief David Maggard Jr. was quoted in the Daily Mail report as saying the four told police they were interested in being free.

 

Contractual dispute?

 

While Alayban did not appear in court, her lawyer Paul Meyer insisted the case was a contractual dispute. "This is a domestic work hours dispute," he said.

 

Working around the clock

 

Maggard said the Kenyan worked "around the clock" for the family cooking, cleaning and caring for children.

 

Rackauckas added the Kenyan was promised wages of $1,600 a month but was paid only about $200 a month.

 

The victim also said that instead of the eight hours a day as stipuated in her contract, she was made to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week.  — ELR, GMA News