Saudi Princess Arrested For Enslaving Domestic Workers! Paid Only $220 A Month in California? What Conditions Were They In For 7 Days a Week? [VIDEO & REPORT]

By Jobs & Hire Staff Reporter | Jul 11, 2013 04:04 PM EDT

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A Saudi Princess has been held in California after she allegedly held a few domestic workers against their will and coercing them to toil in a condominium.

According to an Irvine police chief David Maggard Jr., Meshael Alayban, one of the wives of Prince Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz al Saud, had held 5 women under custody, all being forced to tend to at least 8 people in 4 apartments within her complex. They were paid only $220 for the 16-hour-a-day work that consumed their time 7 days a week.

"The laws of our nation and California do not tolerate people who deprive or violate the liberty of another and obtain forced labor or services," said Tony Rackauckas, the Orange County District Attorney who is representing a Kenyan woman previously held captive. "This is not a contract dispute. This is holding someone captive against their will."

If convicted, the arrested Saudi Princess might face up to 12 years in prison for her one count of human trafficking.

The 30-year-old Kenyan woman was hired in 2012 to Alayban's residence in Saudi Arabia. Since then, she had been forced to work excessive hours compared to her $1,600-a-month contract, and was paid less than 14% of the promised salary—$220. Additionally, her passport has been taken away from her, and she was not allowed to leave, according to authorities. The women were coerced to "around the clock" maid service for the family: rearing children, cooking food, and cleaning.

Orange County set bail at $5 million for the arrested Saudi Princess and monitored her by GPS such that she is not allowed to leave Orange County without authorization.

According to police, the 30-year-old Kenyan woman was not the only woman who was enslaved by Alayban. Four other women from philippines had been found in her home when the police arrived. Officer Maggard stated that the women were interested in being free.

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