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Crime Reporter
A Zimbabwean woman suspected to be the local ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate appeared before a Harare magistrate yesterday and was granted US$100 bail.Shamila Roopen (35) of Alexandra Park was arrested last week on allegations of recruiting 22 local women for employment as housemaids in Saudi Arabia.
Roopen was represented by Mr Dumisani Mtombeni of Mtombeni and Associates, while Ms Francesca Mukumbiri pro- secuted.
She was arrested on Wednesday last week after police received information that she was at a medical centre in Harare where she had taken prospective job seekers for HIV and hepatitis testing before they could be employed in Saudi Arabia.
She was with two women, Emily Maketshemu and Fungai Chipuramhura, who had already undergone the tests and were waiting for their results.
Roopen was allegedly found in possession of two Zimbabwean passports belonging to Irene Hove and Rose Mdala as well as their medical reports.
On interrogation she allegedly revealed she was a recruiting agent for a Saudi Arabia-based company owned by Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Neghaimish.
Roopen placed an advertisement online looking for housemaids. She wanted women aged between 21 and 45-years-old.
Online Reporter