Journalists were yesterday asked to leave the court room in
which a suspected Kuwait human trafficking kingpin, James Maroodza, was being
tried in order to protect the identity of victims.
Maroodza, who appeared before magistrate Bianca Makwande,
is facing 35 counts of human trafficking, but is initially being tried on six.
Six witnesses have been lined up and only one managed to
complete her testimony. Maroodza’s accomplice, Norest Maruma, has since been
sentenced to 50 years imprisonment after he was convicted of five counts of
human trafficking.
Maroodza was put on International Red Notice by the
Interpol after defaulting his bail conditions after his initial remand. The
trial continues on November 5.
Allegations are that sometime in 2016, between March and
May, Maroodza, who operates Employment Engine Global Services, recruited
several Zimbabwean ladies to go and work in Kuwait as house maids.
It is alleged Maroodza misrepresented that they would
receive lucrative salaries, only for them to discover that they were being sold
for labour exploitation and servitude to their employers.
The complainants managed to sneak away from their employers
and sought help at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Kuwait, which facilitated their
repatriation. Netsai Mushayabasa appeared for the State.
Meanwhile, activist Paddington Japajapa, who is facing
charges of insulting Zambian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zelipa Chitambo, after he
failed get a licence to import maize, was put on his defence during trial
yesterday.
Japajapa (50), who is appearing before magistrate Nyasha
Vhitorini, pleaded not guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct.
In his defence, Japajapa told court that he was actually
the victim after the embassy security staff assaulted him in front of Chitambo.
He told the court that he reported the assault to the
police and a docket was opened, but he faced resistance in bringing the records
to court.
However, Japajapa asked the court to allow him to bring
some of the records from the police to court. Vhitorini postponed the matter to
November 5 for trial continuation.
Patience Chimusaru appeared for the State. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment