Any thoughts on this story?

Millionaire Socialite Goes on Trial for Keeping Immigrant ‘Slave’ in New York Mansion

[www.rawstory.com]

As usual, if you read the comments, the people who frequent this website are ripping her apart because she's white, female and the "Evil Rich".

To me it doesn't pass the smell test. I'll have to check out the real story - the other side of the story.

Just off the top of my head - it's too fantastic that in this day and age, a high-profile person would be keeping a slave. I know there's the slave trade, etc., but that's the low-life, underground type of thing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2013 04:27PM by KidRaw.

Anyone not paying a person a living wage is a slave keeper!

Peace to the Cottages, War on the castles!

That was a fast trial. Here's the verdict -

Annie George "has been found guilty on the charge of Harboring an Illegal Alien, but "NOT GUILTY" on the more serious charge of Harboring an Illegal Alien for Financial Gain."

Come to find out - she's also from India.

Here are a couple articles about the case --

Jury delivers verdict in case of illegal servant at Rexford mansion

[www.fox23news.com]

Verdict in Annie George trial

[hudsonvalley.ynn.com]

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Here's the other side of the story - maybe.

Valsamma Had Slapped Annie’s Kid, Says Friend

[articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com]

"KOCHI: Sophia, Annie George's childhood friend from Thodupuzha, who spent a few days at Annie's Llenroc mansion a couple of years ago, says Valsamma Mathai had slapped Annie's youngest child and that this incident had led to her complaint to the US Homeland Security.

Annie George, 39, a wealthy New York woman of Kerala origin, has been accused by US Federal authorities of breaking immigration laws by keeping an illegal immigrant (Valsamma) as her servant and forcing her to work inhumane hours for barely any pay. The maid apparently was made to work 17-hour a day and had to take care of six children. She was forced to live inside a closet for nearly six years. Annie is the widow of Mathai Kolath George who died in a plane accident in 2009. According to US authorities, she hired Valsamma after promised to pay her $1000 per month. But the maid claims she has only been paid $29,000 so far.

However, according to Sophie, "Valsamma recently got mad at Annie's youngest kid and slapped the child's hand. Another servant in the house, an American lady, on hearing, this told Valsamma that she was not supposed to beat kids, and threatened to call police.

Valsamma got really scared and called her son in India. Later they complained against Annie to the Federal authorities. There is a law in the US which says that if an illegal immigrant is abused, the whole family would get the green card," Sophia said in an exclusive phone-in interview with The Times of India.

"When I visited Annie two years back, there were three servants in the house - two Malayalis and an American lady. These Malayali ladies were so laidback that I even told Annie that they were so lucky and were like free birds. These servants were happy and had full freedom in Annie's mansion. During my visit, I even saw Valsamma sleeping on the king-size bed. This was two years back, and I believe things haven't changed drastically after that," Sophia recounted.

"As the kids grew up and started going to school, Annie didn't need the lady anymore. The kids preferred the food prepared by the American servant. Annie, however, kept Valsamma for one more year. ," she said.

Sophia also revealed that Annie used to pay salary by cheque as well as cash. Only $25,000 was paid by cheque.

"Valsamma used to send the money home through Western Union Money Transfer, and the records of money transactions would prove that she was paid more than what she had been claiming that she got from Annie," Sophie said."


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Another view --

"There is another side to this story that the U.S. media doesn’t report. The maid’s claims are far from the truth. She approached Annie George’s family through a pastor for help and a place to stay after running away from the U.N. family who employed her. George’s family agreed to have her stay with them and pay her for their toddler’s care. There were other maids including an American lady Nicole. In her words, VM only had to care for George’s youngest child while others cooked and cleaned. Nicole says VM had a comfortable life and spent almost the whole day watching TV and on the phone with her family and hardly did any work. VM went out for daily walks and could’ve easily gotten help. Annie’s friend Sophia from India who visited Annie, observed that VM slept on a king bed. Why would they have VM sleep in a closet when they had so many rooms? Why wouldn’t they hire anyone legally and pay the same for childcare? The only crime here is that they hired an illegal worker and may have paid below min wage. But we all know that it’s a common practice. Moreover, Annie could’ve assumed she has a visa considering she worked for a U.N. family. To accuse Annie of slavery and subject her to name calling and harsh criticism is unfortunate, especially after helping VM with a place to stay and a way to earn."

More speculation -

" V.M’s real name i Valsamma Mathai (V.M.) got paid well and she built a new house in Mumbai, which paid by Annie George. V.M' two sons live there.. and they have no income. how did they built that house with no other income? because the cash payments there is no evidence. V.M. worked 18 hours a day? without bath room breaks, eat food, take shower, changing cloths? The reality is she enjoyed live there without paying rent, water, electricity food etc.. as a family member. Annie George has a full time cook an American cook, Nicole, and other cleaning staffs there.."

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We don't really know what happened. That's why it bothers me how everyone was so quick to jump all over her - because the maid said she was kept as a slave, and Annie George was 'rich', Annie George was fodder for the character assassins. I never heard a single person speculating on what the other side of the story was.