Charges of domestic servitude and forced labor have been leveled against a Maryland couple. Retired obstetrician/gynecologist, Alfred Edwards, 73, and his wife are now facing a possible 50 years in prison and as much as $250,000 in fines if convicted over their treatment of a Philippine woman which amounts to modern-day slavery.
The un-named victim was invited to America by the couple in 1999 with the promise of employment by the couple. Upon arrival they took away her passport and refused its return. However, that is just the beginning of the woman's ordeal with being held in domestic servitude
Court records show that the Edward's restricted the woman's movements and communications while she was required to cook, clean, iron, garden and give massages. She was also loaned out to neighbors to before domestic duties.
Even though the woman had a husband and eight kids in the Philippines, the couple forced her to marry twice in the United States at times her visa was about to expire. Allegations include threatening to shoot the woman, threatening to have her arrested and bodily harm. The woman of the house, Gloria Edwards, is accused of poking her with knives and other mental and physical abuse. There seems to be no limit to the amount of arrogant cruelty some wealthy Americans are of.
When the woman was paid it was barely $50 a month according to Washington Post. At least 3 years, from 2006 to 2009 the woman received no compensation. After she escaped, the couple found her and threatened she would be "done" if the woman did pay them the $20.000 cost of replacing her. Forced labor and domestic servitude seem minor charges for what really appears as slavery. By today's standards, even a $50 per month salary should be considered wage slavery.
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