The sentence was upheld by the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Justice of Paraíba, in northeastern Brazil, and the case involves the departure of a woman from Angola to Brazil, under the promise of work and study.
In statements made to the Brazilian Immigration Police, one of the accused informed that, while living in Namibia, the angolan citizen worked at her residence as a domestic servant and, upon returning to Brazil, decided to take her with him so that she could continue to provide services to her family.
Thus, on April 23, 2010, the angolan woman entered Brazil carrying an irregular tourist visa, since she was taken to the South American country for work purposes, as confirmed by the convict himself.
"The victim remained working for the couple even after her visa expired and, in addition to providing services as a maid, she also worked in the cleaning service of the defendant's ice cream factory and served customers at the 'ice cream parlor', receiving a salary monthly of 600 reais for a double journey that extended until the weekends", detailed the Court of Justice of Paraíba in a statement.
The work was performed by the victim without any employment contract.
"It is said that the woman worked for the accused until October 7, 2010, when, suffering from kidney stones, she had to undergo surgical treatment, carried out at the University Hospital," the Court added.
However, during treatment, the angolan woman did not receive any assistance from her employers and, still convalescing, two days after surgery, she was summoned to return to work by her employer.
The angolan woman offered resistance, but the couple threatened to "return her to Angola" without paying her labor rights, having even bought a plane trip in this regard. However, the victim did not travel because she was still weak and because she planned to receive payment for the services rendered.
According to the case's rapporteur, João Benedito da Silva, the victim's statements show that she, in addition to having been deceived with false promises to study in Brazil, was subjected to a strenuous workday, being neglected by her employers at the time when more needed assistance, when she found herself ill without being able to work, requiring surgical treatment, in addition to having been forced to return to work even though she was not physically able to do so.
"Although the fierce defense tries to dismiss the accusation, sustaining the insufficiency of evidence capable of supporting a conviction, the elements that configure the penal type remain abundantly demonstrated, that is, the reduction to a condition analogous to slavery", the judge said.
