A United Nations judge has been arrested and convicted for forcing a young woman to work for her as a slave in Britain.
Lydia Mugambe, 49, said she had “immunity” when Thames Valley Police officers entered her home and arrested her under the Modern Slavery Act.
“I am a judge in my country, I even have immunity. I am not a criminal,” she told an officer.
She has since been found guilty of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, facilitating travel with a view to exploitation, forcing someone to work, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.
Following her arrest, the police force released footage of her arrest at her home in Oxfordshire
Thames Valley Police
The 49-year-old will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 2.
Mugambe, who is also a High Court Judge in Uganda, took “advantage of her status” over her victim in the “most egregious way” and fooling her into coming to the UK, Oxford Crown Court heard.
Following her arrest, the police force released footage of her arrest at her home in Oxfordshire.
After she claimed she had immunity from prosecution, she told the officer: “Yes, I have a diplomatic passport.”
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She claimed she had immunity from prosecution
Thames Valley Police
Mugambe later said: “I came here as a student, I don't need anyone to work for me.
“I didn't come with her, she asked me because she has worked at my home before, she asked me."
During the trial Caroline Haughey KC, prosecuting, told jurors: “Lydia Mugambe has exploited and abused [her alleged victim], taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment and deceiving her as to the purpose of her coming to the UK.”
She said that upon the victim’s arrival in the UK, she was made to work for Mugambe as a maid and provided child care.
Mugambe is also a High Court Judge in Uganda
PA
“Deprived of her freedom to choose her own work, to control her ID documents, she was beholden to Ms Mugambe.”
Prosecutors said that Mugambe had engaged in “illegal folly” with Ugandan deputy high commissioner John Leonard Mugerwa.
The pair participated in a “very dishonest” trade-off, which saw Mugerwa arrange for the woman’s sponsorship, the court heard.
In return, the 49-year-old would try to speak to a judge who was in charge of legal action that the deputy high commissioner was named in.
