Son of Guinea's first president charged with forced labour
Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:25:am Africa
3.2K By Obiaks Blog
The son of Guinea's first President Ahmed Sekou Touré has been accused of enslaving a young woman for 16 years at his home in the US, before she managed to escape with the help of neighbours.
Mohamed Touré and his wife Denise Cros-Touré, who are both 57, reportedly brought the girl from Guinea to Texas when she was five years old.
Once in the US, they allegedly forced her to do housework, look after their children and subjected her to emotional and physical abuse, the US Department of Justice said in a press release.
The couple have been charged with forced labour. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.
An investigator for the prosecution says the alleged victim was forced to sleep on the floor for years, and was taken to see a medical professional only once.
The investigator adds that the alleged victim was often shouted at or kicked out of the house without money, identification, or the ability to communicate in English.
On one occasion, the Washington Post reports that she was discovered sleeping on a bench by a police officer, who described her as "wearing dirty unkempt clothing and was very visibly scared and nervous," in a police report.
He then returned her to the Touré residence, the newpaper says, suspecting she was just a runaway.
She is said to have finally escaped from the house in Southlake, Texas in August 2016 "with the help of several former neighbors," the Department of Justice statement adds.
The couple's lawyer denied all of the allegations, reports the Washington Post.
Scott Palmer, told newspaper it was "salacious allegations, fabrications, and lies". He added that the woman was treated like a daughter.
BBC
Mohamed Touré and his wife Denise Cros-Touré, who are both 57, reportedly brought the girl from Guinea to Texas when she was five years old.
Once in the US, they allegedly forced her to do housework, look after their children and subjected her to emotional and physical abuse, the US Department of Justice said in a press release.
The couple have been charged with forced labour. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.
An investigator for the prosecution says the alleged victim was forced to sleep on the floor for years, and was taken to see a medical professional only once.
The investigator adds that the alleged victim was often shouted at or kicked out of the house without money, identification, or the ability to communicate in English.
On one occasion, the Washington Post reports that she was discovered sleeping on a bench by a police officer, who described her as "wearing dirty unkempt clothing and was very visibly scared and nervous," in a police report.
He then returned her to the Touré residence, the newpaper says, suspecting she was just a runaway.
She is said to have finally escaped from the house in Southlake, Texas in August 2016 "with the help of several former neighbors," the Department of Justice statement adds.
The couple's lawyer denied all of the allegations, reports the Washington Post.
Scott Palmer, told newspaper it was "salacious allegations, fabrications, and lies". He added that the woman was treated like a daughter.
BBC
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