A Saudi Arabian “princess,” Meshael Alayban, was keeping slaves in her California condo. Meshael’s occupation is listed as a “princess” since she is one of three women married to the grandson of the King of Saudi Arabia. She was accused of slavery after one of the five women she ’employed” as a maid escaped. The Kenyan national escaped from the three-story condo and flagged down police to help her. When the police searched the property they found four Filipino women who were also being kept as slaves.
According to the Kenyan woman, while she and the other women where living in Saudi Arabia, Alayban promised the women $1,600 a month for two years. Once the family moved to California, Alayban paid the women $220 a month and took their travel documents and work contracts, forcing them to do around-the-clock work that included everything from housework to child care.
“The law of our nation and the state of California do not tolerate people who deprive or violate the liberty of another and obtain forced labor or services,” said Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
Alayban with the support of her nation’s embassy, paid $ 1 million toward a $5 million court bond.
