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Crime Reporter
A Zimbabwean woman believed to be the ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate has been arrested on allegations of recruiting 22 local women for purported employment as housemaids in Saudi Arabia.Shamila Roopen was arrested on Wednesday in Harare following a tip-off to the police. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said, “Detectives received a tip-off to the effect that Shamila Roopen was at a certain medical centre in Harare where she had taken some prospective job seekers for HIV and hepatitis testing before they could be employed as housemaids in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
She was with two women who had already undergone the tests and were waiting for their results. Roopen was found in possession of two Zimbabwean passports belonging to two other women and some medical reports. “The accused person revealed she was working as a recruiting agent for a Saudi Arabia-based company owned by one Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Neghaimish.
“She stated that she met Ibrahim in South Africa in December 2010 and he tasked her to recruit prospective job seekers to be employed as housemaids and teachers in Saudi Arabia,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.
Roopen said in May 2013, she relocated to Zimbabwe where she placed an advertisement on a classifieds website and on her Facebook page for women to be employed as housemaids. She wanted women aged between 21 and 45-years-old.
“Investigations revealed that a total of 22 Zimbabwean women had responded to the advert and six of them had undergone medical examination in readiness for the purported employment in Saudi Arabia,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
“Further investigations revealed that the accused person had been paid US$6 000 for the services. Shamilla Roopen is currently assisting police with investigations and will be charged for human trafficking.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba warned the public to be wary of bogus employment agents. “There is a risk in being a captive in countries where you will not be able to return to Zimbabwe,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
There have been numerous reports of gross abuses of foreigners working in Saudi Arabia. According to the United Nations Palermo Protocol of 2000, human trafficking refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threats or use of force for purposes of exploitation.
Online Reporter