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Cleaner denies judges blackmail | Cleaner denies judges blackmail |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Brazilian cleaner accused of blackmailing two judges who she had worked for illegally has denied the charges she is facing. | A Brazilian cleaner accused of blackmailing two judges who she had worked for illegally has denied the charges she is facing. |
Roselane Driza, 37, admitted asking for £20,000 from a female judge, but said it was compensation for "racism and discrimination" she had suffered. | Roselane Driza, 37, admitted asking for £20,000 from a female judge, but said it was compensation for "racism and discrimination" she had suffered. |
She told the Old Bailey she had been sacked without reason after five years. | She told the Old Bailey she had been sacked without reason after five years. |
Ms Driza denies threatening to expose both judges for employing her and stealing sex videos from one of them. | Ms Driza denies threatening to expose both judges for employing her and stealing sex videos from one of them. |
The judges, colleagues at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, both employed her as a cleaner, the trial has heard. | The judges, colleagues at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, both employed her as a cleaner, the trial has heard. |
It has been claimed she told the female judge, known in court as J, that she was a student who had been granted refugee status when she was employed. | It has been claimed she told the female judge, known in court as J, that she was a student who had been granted refugee status when she was employed. |
But Ms Driza told the court that when J had employed her, she knew her visa had expired and suggested Ms Driza see one of her friends to help. | But Ms Driza told the court that when J had employed her, she knew her visa had expired and suggested Ms Driza see one of her friends to help. |
She said she did not have to answer me because she was a judge and I was a cleaning lady Roselane Driza | She said she did not have to answer me because she was a judge and I was a cleaning lady Roselane Driza |
Speaking through an interpreter she told the trial on Friday she had been sacked over the phone, after working for J for five years, without explanation. | Speaking through an interpreter she told the trial on Friday she had been sacked over the phone, after working for J for five years, without explanation. |
When she phoned back to ask why, the judge flew into a rage and screamed abuse at her, the court was told. | When she phoned back to ask why, the judge flew into a rage and screamed abuse at her, the court was told. |
"She said she did not have to answer me because she was a judge and I was a cleaning lady," Ms Driza, of South Norwood, south London, told the court. | |
The trial has heard that a male judge known in court as I, then decided to terminate her employment with him, because of his friendship with J - with whom he had previously been in a relationship. | The trial has heard that a male judge known in court as I, then decided to terminate her employment with him, because of his friendship with J - with whom he had previously been in a relationship. |
But he then struck up a relationship with Ms Driza and kept it secret from J, the trial has heard. | But he then struck up a relationship with Ms Driza and kept it secret from J, the trial has heard. |
Ms Driza told the court she had been round at I's flat on Boxing Day 2004 when J came round and started demanding to be let in, knocking on the door so hard "she seemed like a volcano". | Ms Driza told the court she had been round at I's flat on Boxing Day 2004 when J came round and started demanding to be let in, knocking on the door so hard "she seemed like a volcano". |
She said J had later told I that Ms Driza was just interested in his money and position, and told him Ms Driza was "always drunk" and used to "sleep with two men at the same time". | She said J had later told I that Ms Driza was just interested in his money and position, and told him Ms Driza was "always drunk" and used to "sleep with two men at the same time". |
She admitted asking for £20,000 in compensation "for the way I had been treated, racism and discrimination, my distress and the calling of names and the bad words". | She admitted asking for £20,000 in compensation "for the way I had been treated, racism and discrimination, my distress and the calling of names and the bad words". |
"All the damage - psychological. There is no money that could pay." | "All the damage - psychological. There is no money that could pay." |
Ms Driza said it was Judge I who suggested the £20,000 figure to her, and she "always listened to him". | Ms Driza said it was Judge I who suggested the £20,000 figure to her, and she "always listened to him". |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |