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UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave | UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave |
(31 minutes later) | |
Lydia Mugambe was found to have abused her position of power to use the young woman as a slave | Lydia Mugambe was found to have abused her position of power to use the young woman as a slave |
A United Nations judge has been jailed for forcing a housekeeper to work as a slave. | A United Nations judge has been jailed for forcing a housekeeper to work as a slave. |
Lydia Mugambe was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when officers discovered she had a young woman at her home carrying out unpaid work as a maid and nanny. | Lydia Mugambe was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when officers discovered she had a young woman at her home carrying out unpaid work as a maid and nanny. |
The 50-year-old, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, was found guilty of modern day slavery offences in March. | The 50-year-old, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, was found guilty of modern day slavery offences in March. |
She was jailed at Oxford Crown Court for six years and four months. | She was jailed at Oxford Crown Court for six years and four months. |
Body camera footage showed Mugambe telling police "I even have immunity" as they made the arrest | Body camera footage showed Mugambe telling police "I even have immunity" as they made the arrest |
Mugambe fraudulently arranged a visa for the woman, who was from Uganda. | |
But the terms of the visa stipulated she would be paid to work as a private servant at the diplomatic residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda's former deputy high commissioner based at the Ugandan embassy in London. | |
Prosecutors said Mr Mugerwa sponsored the victim's visa knowing she would actually work in servitude for Mugambe. | |
In return Mugambe would provide him assistance in relation to a separate court case in Uganda in which he was a defendant, the court was told. | In return Mugambe would provide him assistance in relation to a separate court case in Uganda in which he was a defendant, the court was told. |
The trial heard Mugambe paid for the victim's flight and picked her up from the airport - but then became a slave at her home in Kidlington. | The trial heard Mugambe paid for the victim's flight and picked her up from the airport - but then became a slave at her home in Kidlington. |
Mugambe was studying for a PhD at the University of Oxford | Mugambe was studying for a PhD at the University of Oxford |
Passing sentence, Judge David Foxton said it was a "very sad case", outlining Mugambe's legal accomplishments, including work concerning the protection of human rights. | Passing sentence, Judge David Foxton said it was a "very sad case", outlining Mugambe's legal accomplishments, including work concerning the protection of human rights. |
The judge added that the defendant "showed absolutely no remorse" for her conduct and that she looked to "forcibly blame" the victim for what happened. | The judge added that the defendant "showed absolutely no remorse" for her conduct and that she looked to "forcibly blame" the victim for what happened. |
The Crown Prosecution Service authorised police to charge Mr Mugerwa with conspiracy, but he had diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan Government did not waive. | The Crown Prosecution Service authorised police to charge Mr Mugerwa with conspiracy, but he had diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan Government did not waive. |
'Treated as worthless' | 'Treated as worthless' |
Mugambe had denied forcing the young Ugandan woman to do household chores and said she "always" treated her with love, care and patience. | Mugambe had denied forcing the young Ugandan woman to do household chores and said she "always" treated her with love, care and patience. |
The victim, who has anonymity for life, said: "My existence to Lydia was not important. I was fearful and worried. | The victim, who has anonymity for life, said: "My existence to Lydia was not important. I was fearful and worried. |
"I was asking for God to help me. I should have been treated humanely, not treated as useless or worthless." | "I was asking for God to help me. I should have been treated humanely, not treated as useless or worthless." |
Ch Supt Ben Clark, of Thames Valley Police, said there was "no doubt" that Mugambe had known she was committing offences. | Ch Supt Ben Clark, of Thames Valley Police, said there was "no doubt" that Mugambe had known she was committing offences. |
"Modern slavery is an under reported crime and I hope that the bravery of the victim in this case encourages other victims of modern slavery to come forward," he said. | |
A University of Oxford spokesperson said the institution was "appalled" by its student's crimes. | |
"The university is now commencing its own disciplinary process, which has the power to remove students convicted of serious criminal offences," the spokesperson added. | |
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. | You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. |