PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. said he found "highly credible" a Filipina housekeeper's testimony that her United Arab Emirates boss made her work endless hours cooking, cleaning and caring for his five children without pay.
Elizabeth Ballesteros testified about being subjected to "unbearable" conditions while living in East Greenwich with Col. Arif Mohamed Saaed Mohamed Al-Ali and his family in 2010 as he attended the Naval War College.
McConnell's comments came in stark contrast to those of Chief Judge Mary Lisi, who acquitted Al-Ali of charges that he withheld Ballesteros's pay in violation of foreign labor contracting law.
Ballesteros sued Al-Ali in 2011, accusing him of human trafficking and involuntary servitude.
McConnell in August found Al-Ali in default of Ballesteros's lawsuit for failing to respond.