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Ethiopian woman escapes captivity from Kuwaiti boss in Australia

July 22, 2012 · 325845 Comments2012-07-22+13%3A31%3A12Qalinle+Hussein

The Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia

MELBOURNE — An Ethiopian woman told Melbourne police she escaped abuse Wednesday evening after officers found her at Melbourne First Baptist church on Dairy Road.

According to police records, investigators suspect she may be a victim of human trafficking. She was carrying an Ethiopian passport and was not injured.

“In my experience, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an instance of human trafficking locally,” said Sgt. Sheridan Shelley, who has served for 11 years.

They struggled to understand the woman, who could not speak English. They telephoned a translator service and were able to learn that the woman, 36, had been in the country for about 90 days working for a Kuwaiti family in Melbourne.

She said she worked for a different family in Ethiopia, who brought her to Kuwait and introduced her to the Kuwaitis, who brought her to London and then on to Melbourne to work as a maid.

Police said she told them, through an interpreter, she was treated badly and was not fed or paid as promised. Police said she told them she had been abused and forbidden from leaving the home.

On Wednesday night, she told police, she slipped out of the home while it was vacant and found her way to a home on Coventry Circle, near West Melbourne, where she was taken in and brought to the church, where she was fed.

Police said they aren’t sure where she was being held. Federal investigators are talking to the Kuwaiti family. No arrests have been made.

The case was handed over to agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We’re still early on in the investigation,” said Nestor Yglesias, a spokesperson for ICE.

Investigators will try to determine whether she is a victim of human trafficking. They’ll figure out how to provide her help if she is a victim. They’ll look into how she got into the country and what she was doing in Melbourne.

“Every case is different,” Yglesias said. “There are a number of things we have to do.”

Florida Today

Published: July 22, 2012

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Ethiopia, Human trafficking, Immigration, Kuwait, London, Melbourne

isse says:

I'd pay a fortune to get such a chance, i'm tired of life in Hargeisa walaahi!

10:36 am on July 22, 2012

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- Brother says:
  
  O brother, you are very fortunate as you live in a Muslim country. unlike me you don't have keep checking the clock every second for salah as you can here the adhan from your house (Oh how I miss the adhan), and you don't have to travel to the other side of a big city just so you can pray to your lord.
  
  If only you knew how Allah has blessed you!!
  
  5:28 pm on July 22, 2012
  
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- amal says:
  
  isse, I thought you were from London. We need a huge economic reform so that our citizen can stay and achieve in their home country. Haybad waxaad ku leedahay dulka ga hooyo. InshAllah soon we will become a great nation. All the Somali diaspora should explore ways to benefit and contribute to their country too. A lot of diaspora are moving back.
  
  2:32 pm on July 23, 2012
  
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fadal says:

This ethiopian chick she must be waiting This opportunity for long time. her boss The kuwaiti jack asses They did not realize once ethiopian person reach any westren countries That is Their altimate paradise They will run as fast as They can to seek asylum.

Growing number of kuwaiti,U.A.E,saudi are coming with Their families to study in australia,newzealand,canada becuase for Them These days it’s difficult to get U.S visa. since 9/11 The U.S made for Them harder.

10:42 pm on July 22, 2012

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Kayse says:

I think she is lying. She just wants to live in Australia like everyone else. The immigration must deport her back to Ethiopia and back to her uncle Meles who continues to abuse Somali civilians in the Somali State.

When I went there, the Liyu police wanted to apprehend me but their Tigray boss already knew I was an Australian so he didn't want Australia to cut their food aid.

I did not even know that Australia had embassy in Ethiopia, all these time I was communicating with the embassy in Nairobi and I thank them for their support.

We have laws and I am confident the Customs, even though they are idiots, will work with the Victorian police to find the truth about this woman. How come she didn't run during London? All those places, airports with so many people and customs…she is lying.

She must go through the Australian legal framework. So many people are patiently waiting to enter Australia and this woman should not just jump over the system.

11:25 pm on July 22, 2012

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