A man with cognitive delay was a slave for 17 years. He was rented for agricultural work and lived in a van.

The incident occurred in Braganza. The arrests took place as part of an operation by the Northern Directorate of the PS, during which several searches were carried out in houses and in the camp.

The victim, now 54, “was under constant control and surveillance, and her documents were in the possession of the accused, which made her especially vulnerable,” PJ reports.

Authorities determined that the man lived in degrading conditions, lacking minimum living conditions, health, hygiene and food. He spent the night in a van in a state of scrap metal, in a camp. He never received medical attention even when he was involved in a serious accident that left his lower limbs with permanent injuries.

He eventually managed to escape, prompting PJ’s intervention.