Vishal Sharma, a former merchant seaman from India, faces deportation after an arduous journey through the UK justice system that saw him initially recognised as a victim of modern slavery. In November 2017, Sharma arrived in London with the promise of a job on a Belgian tanker, the MT Waasmunster, but was diverted to board the scallop trawler, Noordzee, instead. “I told him, ‘This is not my ship. I am not a fisherman,’” Sharma recounted, feeling abandoned and fearful as his travel agent became unreachable. Under duress, he worked in extreme conditions for three weeks, often toiling 18 to 20 hours a day without proper meals or safety equipment.

Sharma’s situation improved slightly when he was transferred to another vessel, where fellow migrants alerted the police about the exploitation occurring. Upon docking in Portsmouth, Sharma and others were taken into custody, leading to a recognition by the Home Office of his plight as a victim of modern slavery. He agreed to assist law enforcement in a criminal case against TN Trawlers, the operator of vessels associated with his previous employment. However, despite being identified as a victim, Sharma’s hopes for justice have since diminished.

Both TN Trawlers and its associated companies have been investigated for human trafficking and modern slavery allegations, but as of now, no charges have been brought to trial. Sharma’s case was ultimately dropped because he could not identify specific perpetrators in a video recording. After cooperating with authorities for years, he is now facing the potential of being sent back to India, amidst fears for his safety stemming from threats he has received as a result of his cooperation with law enforcement.

Sharma has established a life in Bradford, marrying Sukhdeep and having a son, Humraj. Despite the Home Office’s rejection of his asylum claim, asserting their belief that his fears of return were unfounded, Sharma’s plight highlights ongoing concerns regarding migrant worker exploitation in the fishing industry, as noted by advocates like Joy Gillespie, CEO of Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland.

In a disturbing parallel, Lydia Mugambe, a 49-year-old Ugandan judge for the United Nations, was recently found guilty of modern slavery offences in the UK. Mugambe’s case was flagged to the authorities by the victim who eventually reported her situation. At Oxford Crown Court, evidence was presented that Mugambe treated the victim as an unpaid domestic worker, exploiting her vulnerability.

Mugambe faced accusations of conspiring to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, intimidation of a witness, and coercing the young woman into forced labour. Prosecutors argued that Mugambe manipulated the circumstances under which the victim arrived in the UK, misleading her about her role and maintaining control over her identity documents. Mugambe, who maintained her innocence throughout, claimed that the victim wished to come to the UK of her own accord. Her family has come to her defence, attributing the conviction to a misunderstanding rooted in cultural differences and insisting she had treated the victim kindly.

Following the jury’s verdicts, which included multiple counts of conspiracy and intimidation, Mugambe is set to be sentenced on May 2. Her conviction and Sharma’s ongoing struggle with potential deportation underscore the ongoing challenges faced by migrant workers and the complexities of modern slavery in the UK.

Source: Noah Wire Services