A BRAZILIAN woman is currently in protective custody, as her 29-year-old boyfriend appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan on Friday charged for wrongfully confining her at his Austin Street, Campbellville home for the past three months.

Romel Sahadeo, a Guyanese, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that between June 1 and August 27, 2018 at Austin Street, Campbellville, he unlawfully restrained the Brazilian woman, preventing her from proceeding beyond circumscribed limits, that is to say his yard.

Sahadeo was not represented by an attorney. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Gordon Mansfield made no objections to bail being granted to the accused.

The miner was released on $50,000 bail with the condition that he report to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters at Eve Leary once weekly. The trial into the matter is scheduled to commence on September 4.

According to reports, Sahadeo and the victim are known to each other and had developed a relationship. The defendant told the victim to come to Guyana where she would be employed at his mother’s roti and fast food shop. The woman travelled to Lethem from Brazil and met the defendant who put her in a minibus and took her to his home.

As days went by and the woman was unable to leave the house, she began to plead with the defendant to allow her to return home. In response, the defendant told her she cannot leave because he had stood all her expenses and as a result he now owns her. He further threatened the woman, telling her that calling the police would result in her going to jail as she is in the country illegally.

The woman made several other requests to leave the home which caused the defendant to become angry and during his rage, he assaulted her.

One day, the victim was given access to the internet by a relative of the defendant and she used the opportunity to contact her mother and other relatives in Brazil. The family made contact with local authorities and the victim was rescued by the Ministry of Social Protection.