A former Stirling student has been remanded in custody following a charge of making a woman carry out compulsory labour.
Precious Izekor, an economics graduate, had her application for bail rejected after appearing at the High Court in Belfast.
The 25-year old and her husband, 33-year old Osarobo Izekor, allegedly kept a Nigerian woman against her will for nine months.
Ms Izekor was deemed a “flight risk” and the police raised concerns that she may risk interfering with witnesses.
The prosecutors previously told the High Court that the alleged victim was forced to clean and babysit for no payment and was locked in the couple’s home.
The court heard that the alleged victim was described as “vulnerable” and had never had formal education, leaving her with a learning age of a four year old, according to BBC News.
She reportedly came to Belfast, where the couple live in neighbouring Castlereagh, with the promise of paid employment, which never transpired.
Authorities were first notified after the alleged 30-year old victim told a church friend about how, in 2011, she was brought to Northern Ireland.
According to her account, she was not paid while her family in Nigeria received the equivalent of £21 per month.
Precious Izekor, who holds dual British and Sierra Leonean nationality and works for Santander, was arrested in Glasgow.
Her barrister, Barry Gibson, told the court: “All of a sudden her life has been turned upside down.”
“She has been taken from her children, she is pregnant and she has been put in custody on the word of a young girl who was living within a family who were her benefactors.”
Defence says that the complaint is making false accusations in a bid to extend her stay in the United Kingdom.
Mr Gibson stressed that a valid contract confirming her employment status as a domestic worker was lodged with the Home Office, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
No date has yet been set for the trial.
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