Alleged human trafficker trial continues
By Munyarazdi Doma
The case of a woman suspected of being behind a human trafficking scam continued with the investigating officer being cross examined by the defence lawyer.
Shamila Roopen (35) of Alexandra Park in Harare is facing allegations of recruiting 22 local women for employment as housemaids in Saudi Arabia. Through her lawyer, Mr Dumisani Mtombeni of Mtombeni and Associates, Roopen denied the charges.
In her defence, Roopen told the court that she was acting on behalf of Ian Recruitment, a company based in Saudi Arabia.
“I own a company in Zimbabwe called Pursuit Employment Agency, which is registered in terms of the law and I deny recruiting, transferring or harbouring anyone for purposes of human trafficking,” she said.
Officer in Charge Operations in the law and order section Detective Inspector Maria Phiri was cross examined by Shamila Roopen’s lawyer.
Detective Inspector Phiri was asked to comment on the documents which Mthombeni said belonged to his client. The cop testified that it was the first time seeing them although they had the name Ian Recruitment Company, they (papers) could be fake.
“Don’t bring papers to confuse me. Those documents could have been manufactured in First Street.
“I’m happy you appreciate that I’m a seasoned detective and in my work I have seen many documents which would have been manufactured in town,” submitted Detective Inspector Phiri.
When the cop refused to comment on the papers, defence lawyer Mthombeni said that the failure by the cop to comment was helping to have his client acquitted, but she (cop) disagreed.
The defence also argued that in the cop’s witness statement, she had not indicated that Shamila had been promised US$10 per recruit. It was also the defence’s argument that the US$6000 which they (cops) alleged had been received by Shamila did not mean it was for human trafficking.
Mthombeni submitted that throughout his client’s interview with the cops, she (Shamila) was co-operating, hence that could not be the conduct of a human trafficker.
The lawyer submitted that Shamila was released after spending a night in cells and Detective Inspector Phiri said he (Mthombeni) had been pestering the cops (for the release of Shamila).
Detective Inspector Phiri said that she had to refer Mthombeni to her superiors until Shamila was released into his (Mthombeni) custody. The case continues next Tuesday before magistrate Don Ndirowei with Detective Inspector Phiri still on the witness stand.
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.
