Domestic help wants trial for US status: Indian-origin employer

An Indian-origin woman, accused of keeping an illegal immigrant from her native place as a domestic help at her mansion here, claims the housekeeper is cooperating with the prosecution as she wants to secure permanent legal status for herself and her children to continue staying in US.

Annie George, 40, has been charged with harbouring an illegal immigrant. Prosecutors say George kept a middle-aged widow from India, identified in court papers only as VM, as a domestic help in her upstate New York mansion for five years without paying her adequately.

George's lawyer Mark Sacco said in a trial brief submitted in US District Court that, "As an avenue to secure permanent legal status in the US for both herself and her children, she (VS) has condemned my client."

George, who has pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to go on trial on August 27 and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Sacco had sought dismissal of the charges and said the pay dispute of about $40,000 could be settled in a civil court instead. Prosecutors say VM was offered $1000 per month for working as a live-in servant for George. However, VM was paid about $26,000 for her five years of service.

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