The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Jury told illegal worker’s leg was gangrenous
COURT: Man’s diabetic ulcer was so severe part of his leg had to be amputated
An alleged human trafficker put an illegal immigrant’s life in danger by taking him to a Chinese herbalist for treatment to a severely gangrenous leg, a jury has been told.
Izhar Hussain, 55, told the jury at Perth Sheriff Court he was given acupuncture and a herbal remedy which made the leg worse and left him in agony.
The jury was told the diabetic ulcer was in fact so severe that Mr Hussain had to have part of his leg amputated less than a week later.
He said alleged trafficker Shahid Mahmood was desperate to avoid helping him get hospital treatment because the NHS would ask questions about his immigration status.
Mr Hussain, from Pakistan, said his employer dismissed his pain for months, before eventually taking him to see a herbalist.
Mr Hussain said Mahood later drove him to Edinburgh – to avoid local hospitals – and dumped him outside the door before driving off.
The jury was told that his right leg had become severely gangrenous as a result of a diabetic ulcer and was amputated below the knee on December 14.
Mr Hussain said Mahmood and his soon took away his mobile phone on the way to the hospital because their names were listed as contacts and they did not want to be linked to him.
He said that he had Type 2 diabetes and had been taking medication in Pakistan. He said Mahmood did not help him get medication in Scotland.
Mr Hussain, speaking through an interpreter, told the jury that he was working illegally in the Dundee and Arbroath areas to pay for his children to be educated in Pakistan.
Among charges denied by Mahmood, 53, of Marketgate, Arbroath, are breaking laws by employing illegal immigrant Izhar Hussain, from Pakistan, between September 6 2010 and December 10 2017 at Kingsley Guest House, Arbroath, and Geniotech, Hilltown, Dundee.
At both of those locations, and Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, Mahmood is alleged to have required Mr Hussain to perform forced or compulsory labour for long hours with little or no pay.
It is alleged he was not allowed to leave the workplace without permission.
Mahmood further denies letting Mr Hussain become ill, severely injured and in danger of losing his life between November 1 and December 10 2017.
The charge alleges “ultimately there was such a delay in him seeking medical treatment that he required to have his leg amputated”.
The trial before Sheriff Pino Di
Emidio continues.