Couple Guilty of Smuggling Teen Girl

A man in England who smuggled a 14-year-old Ghanaian girl into Britain to act as their slave was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Accountant Samuel Quainoo, 59, and his wife, teacher Ernestina Quainoo, 37, forced the girl to cook and clean in their house, as well as being the primary caregiver for their two young sons, the girl claimed.

The couple admitted one count of child trafficking, but denied they treated her like a slave. Ernestina was given a suspended sentence.

The unnamed girl, who is now 18, told authorities that from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., she was expected to feed, clothe and wash their baby, as well as sleep in the same room as him at night, the Daily Mail reported.

The girl said when she moved to England four years ago, she was promised an education. Instead, she said she was rarely allowed to leave the house and had to work for free.

They don’t pay me any money, she told the court.