Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Diplomats who exploit domestic staff won't get immunity from prosecution, rules UK Supreme Court

Diplomats are normally protected from both criminal charges and civil cases in the countries where they are posted.

Diplomats who exploit domestic staff won't get immunity from prosecution, rules UK Supreme Court

THE UK Supreme Court has ruled that no diplomatic immunity should be given in modern slavery cases, according to a report.

Diplomats are normally protected from both criminal charges and civil cases in the countries where they are posted.


The top court held that a Saudi diplomat Khalid Basfar, accused of exploiting a Filipina domestic worker in London, did not have immunity in relation to the allegation, the BBC reported.

According to the report, the decision paves the way for the woman to seek compensation.

Basfar is a member of the diplomatic staff at Saudi Arabia's embassy in London.

The case was brought by Josephine Wong, 30, who alleges she was forced to work for Khalid Basfar and his family in conditions of modern slavery.

Her lawyers said she was subjected to verbal abuse and was given only left-over food to eat when her employers were at home. They added that she was confined to the house at all times except to take out the rubbish. 

She alleged that she was made to work from 7 am until around 11.30 pm every day of the week, with no days off or rest breaks. Wong told the court that she was forced to wear a doorbell so her employers could summon her at any moment.

The court heard that she was brought to the UK from Saudi Arabia in 2016, and not paid anything for seven months. Then she was paid about £1,800 in one lump sum - a fraction of her contractual entitlement - and after that not paid again.

Wong managed to escape in 2018 and brought a claim against Basfar in an employment tribunal. But he said the claim should be struck out on the basis of his diplomatic protection.

Under article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution. But any commercial activity outside their professional work can be the subject of civil claims.

The Supreme Court now ruled that his alleged exploitation of her amounted to commercial activity.

"The extent of control over Wong's person and dominion over her labour exercised by Basfar on the assumed facts of this case was so extensive and despotic as to place her in a position of domestic servitude," the BBC report quoting the court order said.

"Further, on the assumed facts Basfar gained a substantial financial benefit by deliberately and systematically exploiting Wong's labour for almost two years, initially for a fraction of her contractual entitlement to wages and latterly for no pay at all. This conduct is accurately described as a commercial activity practised for personal profit."

Wong's lawyer, Nusrat Uddin, told the BBC: "It's justice at last for our client. And for all of the potential victims at risk of being exploited by diplomats. It allows recourse to take legal action and that's extremely empowering."

James Fookes, Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group Co-ordinator at the charity Anti-Slavery International, has said that the ruling is the first of its kind in the world and will shine more light on this serious issue and will hopefully lead the way to greater protection.

Mr Basfar's solicitors declined to comment on the ruling. There was also no immediate response from the Saudi embassy in London.

More For You

Idris Elba wants zombie knives banned to tackle knife crimes

Idris Elba discusses solutions to the UK's knife crime crisis in his new BBC documentary

Getty Images

Idris Elba wants zombie knives banned to tackle knife crimes

Actor Idris Elba believes banning zombie knives is a step forward, but it won’t solve the UK’s knife crime crisis. In his BBC documentary, Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, he explores the issue and highlights the need for early intervention to protect young people from violence.

Elba argues that schools must step in earlier to prevent children from turning to crime. He also suggests that kitchen knives could be redesigned to be less dangerous. "Not all kitchen knives need a point. You can still cut food without it," he says, offering an different approach to reducing knife-related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hitman sentenced to life in Canada for killing Air India bombing suspect

Tanner Fox and his accomplice, Jose Lopez, pleaded guilty last October to the second-degree murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik. (Representational image:iStock)

Getty Images

Hitman sentenced to life in Canada for killing Air India bombing suspect

A HITMAN convicted of murdering a man acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombings has been sentenced to life in prison in Canada. The bombings had killed 331 people.

Tanner Fox and his accomplice, Jose Lopez, pleaded guilty last October to the second-degree murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik.

Keep ReadingShow less
kumbh-stampede-reuters

A devotee crosses over a barricade, after a deadly stampede before the second 'Shahi Snan' (royal bath), at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 29. (Photo: Reuters)

30 dead in stampede at India's Maha Kumbh Mela

AT LEAST 30 people were killed and many others injured in a stampede at the Kumbh Mela, India’s largest religious gathering, early Wednesday. The incident occurred when a crowd surged beyond a police cordon, leading to people being trampled.

"Thirty devotees have unfortunately died," senior police officer Vaibhav Krishna told a news conference. "Ninety injured were taken to the hospital."

Keep ReadingShow less
Bhim-Kohli

Kohli, described by his family as a 'loving husband, dad, and grandad,' lived near Franklin Park with his wife, Satinder. (Photo credit: Facebook)

Trial for Bhim Kohli’s death begins 17 Feb after teens deny charges

A 13-year-old girl has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Bhim Kohli, 80, who was injured in Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, while walking his dog on 1 September last year. Kohli died in hospital the following day.

The girl, who cannot be named due to her age, appeared at Leicester Crown Court last week. She denied the charge and was granted conditional bail until the trial begins on 17 February, reported BBC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jonathan-Reynolds-Getty

Jonathan Reynolds highlighted that the UK-India trading relationship was valued at GBP 41 billion for the year ending September 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Trade secretary to visit India in February for FTA talks

BUSINESS and trade secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, on Monday (27) revealed plans to visit India next month with a focus on finalising the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations as the UK government aims to enhance bilateral ties.

The visit comes after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer last year announced an early 2025 relaunch of UK-India FTA talks, following his meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil in November.

Keep ReadingShow less