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Prosper Dembedza-Herald Correspondent
The trial of a woman who is facing allegations of human trafficking unsuspecting job seekers to Oman kicked off yesterday with her pleading not guilty.
Karren Pamela Teguru (32), who is being represented by Rungano Mahuni, denied the charges when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei.
The complainant is Portia Kelesi (29). The State led evidence from the investigating officer Abdullah Antonio who told the court that when the victim arrived from Oman, Teguru was nowhere to be found.
The court heard that Kelesi was referred to Teguru through a friend in Marondera, and the two started communicating via WhatsApp.
The witness said during the investigations he saw messages from Teguru asking Kelesi for her medical and travel documents to travel to Oman.
Antonio further told the court that he saw the complainant’s passport which had a visa that did not show the type of job Kelesi was going to do in Oman.
He said Kelesi, who was ill-treated while working as a maid in Oman, was only freed after the Government intervened after investigations uncovered that there were girls who were working as slaves in Oman .
However, defense counsel Mahuni said his client did not misrepresent anything to the complainant since she never saw the victim in person rather she was referred to her by another person.
He said Kelesi was recruited by another agent called Hamidah who is based in Oman, however, the investigating officer disputed the submissions saying the victim would not be linked to Hamidah without Teguru.
Mahuni argued that there was no human trafficking since the victim was employed as a maid in Oman and was paid.
Online Reporter