Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Husband and wife avoid jail over human trafficking
Victim kept in home as unpaid servant
A HUSBAND and wife who made a vulnerable woman “perform forced labour” including unpaid childcare escaped prison yesterday.
Osarobo “John” Izekor, 36, and 29-year old Precious were handed a suspended two-year jail term.
The couple – who have three children – were also ordered to pay the Nigerian woman £10,000 in compensation.
The sentencing at Belfast Crown Court marked one of the first cases brought under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act (NI) 2015.
The culprits, of Ashmount Gardens in Lisburn, Co Antrim, admitted between September 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017, they “required another person to perform forced or compulsory labour”.
Whilst the victim was forced to carry out domestic duties, most of the criminality was unpaid childcare in their then Castlereagh Place home in East Belfast.
Judge Richard Greene said while it was accepted the Izekors had not physically ill-treated the women they kept as a domestic slave, they gained financially by not having to pay childcare costs.
The judge added there was also a financial loss to the victim and spoke of the “exploitation of her in the excessive hours she was required to work – both in childminding and in doing household chores which she ought not to have been asked to perform”.
The victim, 33, arrived in Northern Ireland in 2011 and worked as a nanny for John Izekor’s sister for five years.
When his sibling returned to Nigeria in 2016, the woman moved into Castlereagh Place where she was kept ignorant of her immigration status and prevented from having access to her passport and paperwork.
While she had her own room and was given food and clothes, she was not paid while a small sum was sent to her family.
When she finally raised the issue of her documents with Precious Izekor, an argument ensued. A few days later, she left the Izekors and went to stay with a friend, who – concerned for the woman – felt she was being exploited and accompanied her to the Home Office.
When an official called at their home, Precious denied knowing the woman.
After the Izekors were arrested, they admitted the offence.
Prosecutor Charles Maccreanor said the Probation Board believed they presented a medium risk of re-offending and displayed a limited victim awareness.
He added Izekor possessed a “distorted view of the power relationship”, while his wife insisted she was helping the woman out. Pointing out their offending was “over a protracted period”, counsel added both “had a good working knowledge of the immigration system and have abused it”.
Gavan Duffy QC, representing
Precious Izekor, told Judge Greene: “Unfortunately last Thursday, a mob attacked the home of the defendants where they live with their three children.
“Significant damage was caused to the property, the children were terrified.”
John Izeokor’s barrister Barry Gibson said his client was a “highly skilled” with a degree in accountancy.
Judge Greene said: “He is a man who professes to have Christian values.
“How someone can have Christian values and treat someone like this is beyond me.
“Perhaps he will reflect on those values in the years ahead.”
After passing sentence, the couple were told by the judge “you are now free to go”.
How someone have Christian values and treat someone like this is beyond me JUDGE RICHARD GREENE YESTERDAY
journalist Donal Macintyre. Ms Brinkworth also claims that the BBC did not want her taking legal action, according to the legal papers.
They say Lebanese businessman and politician Mr Harfouch, now 53, was with senior Elite management at a Paris restaurant in 1999 when they discussed the Macintytre programme.
Marie is said to have told the others “we’re in the s**t” after learning that the undercover exposé about Elite was about to be broadcast.
Ms Brinkworth, then 31, pretended to be a fashion model, and Mr Marie is alleged to have said: “I got tricked.”
He is then said to have described Ms Brinkworth as a “huge problem”.
Vitali Leiba, an Elite agent allegedly with strong links to the Russian mafia, is said to have replied: “Consider it done.” Mr Harfouch claims this was an oblique reference to “making [Brinkworth] disappear”, according to the legal papers.
The Harfouch testimony is being used by lawyers for 15 plaintiffs, including Ms Brinkworth, to try and get the statute of limitations thrown out.
In a file sent to Paris prosecutors, William Bourdon, Amelie Lefebvre and Anneclaire Lejeune refer to “the fear of physical reprisals, going as far as a contract killing, preventing a filing of a complaint within the required time frame by Lisa
Brinkworth, who accuses Gerald Marie of sexual assault in her report.” The lawyers’ report adds: “They are therefore requesting, in an unprecedented approach, an extension of the limitation period, paving the way for a future trial.”
Ms Brinkworth wrote of the incident with Mr Marie in a nightclub: “He became more persistent, demanding I sleep with him.
“Our documentary showed Marie propositioning me for sex for a million lire. But what came next wasn’t aired. To my horror, he walked over to my chair, straddled me, and repeatedly thrust himself into my lower abdomen, simulating sex.”
A Met Police spokesman said: “The investigation into the murder of Ms Dando remains open, as with all murder investigations.
“We will always explore any new information which may become available.”
Mr George was convicted in 2001 of shooting dead Jill, 37, on her doorstep. At a 2008 retrial he was unanimously acquitted when a tiny particle of gunpowder residue found in a jacket pocket – instrumental in his conviction – was found to be so small it was inadmissible as evidence.
He now lives in Ireland.