A car wash owner in South London has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for exploiting eight Romanian nationals, who were discovered living in a single, filthy shed after a tip-off from a brave 15-year-old boy.
The Deceptive Promise and Grim Reality
Hewa Margai, a 45-year-old from Carshalton Road, lured the group to Mitcham in late 2020 with false promises of legitimate employment, fair pay, food, and accommodation at his business.
In a cruel betrayal, upon their arrival, the victims had their identification documents taken from them. They were then forced to live together in one cramped and squalid on-site shed, where they suffered physical, mental, and psychological abuse for months.
The Raid and Rescue
The ordeal continued until February 2021, when the Metropolitan Police received crucial information from the youngest victim. Acting on this tip-off, officers conducted a raid the very same day.
The operation rescued two women in their 20s and five men ranging from their teens to their 30s. Communicating via Google Translate, the victims revealed they had travelled to the UK by bus. They had worked only briefly before the Covid-19 lockdown forced the car wash to close. Shockingly, from that point on, they were forced to pay rent to Margai for their captivity.
The neglect they endured had severe consequences; one of the rescued women developed a serious infection that required hospitalisation and multiple surgeries.
Justice Served After Five-Year Investigation
Margai was arrested a month after the raid. His case prompted a thorough, five-year investigation by the Met's Modern Slavery Unit.
On Wednesday, November 19, he was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court on eight counts of holding a person in slavery or servitude, contrary to Section 1 of the Modern Slavery Act.
On November 27, he was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison. The judge also imposed a stringent 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order to prevent further offences upon his release.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Stubbins, from Central Specialist Crime, praised the victims' resilience, stating: "The trauma and ordeal the victims endured cannot be underestimated. They have shown remarkable strength throughout the investigation and played an essential role in providing evidence to ensure Margai is held accountable."
The victims have since been repatriated to Romania, where they are receiving support from friends and family.
