A victim with cognitive delay, he slept in an unfit annex, worked hours on end without pay, was deprived of his freedom and ate leftovers.
• Photo: Miguel Pereira da Silva
Fair Court
He had worked on an agricultural farm since he was 16 years old and, when the owner of the property died, the man, with cognitive delay and now 54 years old, started working with the businessman’s son, in Fajões, Oliveira de Azeméis. For about 10 years, he was enslaved. He lived in an unhygienic annex, did not receive a salary, was attacked several times and ate leftovers. The boss and his wife, aged 69 and 67, were arrested by the Porto PJ for human trafficking.
The victim, deprived of all physical freedom of movement, decision and action, was meanwhile institutionalized. At that time, she revealed in detail how she lived in a degrading way and the case, which reached the Public Ministry, was passed to the Judiciary.
The bosses took advantage of the man’s vulnerability and forced him to do all types of work, from farming to treating animals and washing bottles in a wine company that the suspects owned. All this for hours on end, including weekends and holidays, and without receiving pay.
The bosses, with no criminal record, were arrested on Wednesday. Present to the judge, at the Santa Maria da Feira Court, they were released with a bail of five thousand euros each. They are prohibited from contacting the victim and are required to make weekly appearances.
