He worked on an agricultural farm from the age of 16, and when the owner of the property died, the cognitively delayed man, now 54, began working with the son of a businessman in Fajones, Oliveira de Azemeis. He was enslaved for about 10 years. He lived in an unhygienic annex, did not receive a salary, was attacked several times and ate scraps. The boss and his wife, 69 and 67, were arrested by Porto police for human trafficking.
The victim, deprived of all physical freedom of movement, decision and action, was meanwhile institutionalized. He then detailed how he lived in a degrading manner, and the case, which reached the prosecutor’s office, was transferred to the judiciary.
Supervisors took advantage of the man’s vulnerability and forced him to do everything from farming to treating animals to washing bottles at the wine company the suspects owned. And all this for hours, including weekends and holidays, and without receiving a salary.
The bosses, who have no criminal records, were arrested on Wednesday. Presented before a judge at the Santa Maria da Feira court, they were released on bail of five thousand euros each. They are prohibited from contacting the victim and are required to appear weekly.