Release # 101-2017

www.queensda.org
DISTRICT ATTORNEY twitter@QueensDABrown
QUEENS COUNTY
125-01 QUEENS BOULEVARD
KEW GARDENS, NEW YORK 11415-1568
718-286-6000

RICHARD A. BROWN
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: PRESS OFFICE

MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017 (718) 286-6315

FOREIGN CONSULAR OFFICER INDICTED FOR LABOR TRAFFICKING;

DEFENDANT ALLEGEDLY FORCED HOUSE SERVANT TO WORK WITHOUT PAY
Allegations Include Physical Abuse And Threats of Death and Shame to Victims Family;
Defendant Faces Up To 15 Years in Prison if Convicted

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced today that a Queens County grand
jury has indicted a Bangladesh consular officer with limited immunity on labor trafficking, assault
and other criminal charges for allegedly forcing a foreign national to work for his family in their
Queens home without financial compensation from approximately 2012 through May 2016, when
the victim was able to escape the residence.

District Attorney Brown said, The allegations in this case are very disturbing. A consular
officer is accused of using both physical force and vile threats to control a person in his employment
and whom he refused to pay. The defendant allegedly seized the victims passport and, from the first
day on the job, refused to pay wages due the employee and, furthermore, used threats of harm to his
family residing overseas to prevent him from leaving his employ. If the allegations are proven to be
true, the defendant must be held accountable for these alleged actions.

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Md Shahedul Islam, 45, who resides in the
Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens. The defendant holds the post of Deputy Consul General
of Bangladesh and is accorded limited immunity, which pertains specifically to official actions only.

Islam has been charged in a 33-count indictment with second- and fourth-degree grand
larceny, second- and third-degree assault, labor trafficking, second-degree unlawful imprisonment,
failure to pay the minimum wage and second-degree harassment. The defendant was arraigned today
before Queens Supreme Court Justice Daniel Lewis, who set bail at $50,000 bond/ $25,000 cash bail
and ordered the defendant to surrender his passport. Islam, who faces up to 15 years in prison if
convicted, was ordered to return to court on June 28, 2017.

District Attorney Brown said that, according to the indictment, the victim was brought to
Queens, New York, from Bangladeshi sometime between 2012 and 2013 to work as household help
for Islam and his family. Soon after his arrival, Islam allegedly took possession of the victims
passport and required the man to work 18 hours a day in the familys home. Even though the victim
had a contract which outlined his compensation, it is alleged he was never paid for his work. If the
victim disobeyed the defendants orders, the victim was allegedly physically assaulted by the
defendant, who either struck him with his hand or sometimes with a wooden shoe.

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According to the charges, District Attorney Brown continued, the victims only sources of
income came from tips from guests when he was a server at parties and from the minuscule amount
of money that the defendant sent to the victims family in Bangladesh. However, in 2014, shortly
after there was local news coverage of an Indian diplomat being charged with labor trafficking, the
defendant allegedly sought to cover up his own alleged illegal actions by taking most of the victims
cash tip money which he gave back in the form of a check. It is alleged the victim then had to deposit
the check into his bank account, thereby creating the appearance that the employee was receiving a
paycheck.

Finally, according to the criminal charges, when the victim asked to leave his employ on
several occasions, the defendant, in response, allegedly hit him or threatened to harm his family back
home in Bangladesh. It is alleged that Islam specifically threatened to kill the mans mother and
young son and, on occasion, stated he would have the victims college-age daughter shamed if he
did not continue to work as his servant. In May 2016, the victim managed to escape from the
residence and reported his experience to the police.

The investigation was conducted by Detectives George Munoz and John Zerafa, of the New
York City Police Departments Major Case Vice Enforcement Divisions Human Trafficking Team,
under the supervision of Lieutenant Christopher Sharpe and Captain Thomas Milano, and under the
overall supervision of Inspector James P. Klein. The financial aspect of the investigation was
conducted by Account Investigator Joseph D. Plonski, of District Attorney Browns Crimes Against
Revenue Unit.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica L. Melton, Chief of District Attorney Browns Human
Trafficking Unit, is prosecuting the case with the assistance of paralegal Kate J. Hall. The Human
Trafficking Unit operates within the District Attorneys Special Proceedings Bureau, under the
supervision of Assistant District Attorney and Bureau Chief Anthony M. Communiello and Assistant
District Attorneys Oscar W. Ruiz and Nicoletta Caferri, Deputy Chiefs, and is under the overall
supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco.

It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendant is
presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Note to Editors: E-version of this press release is posted on www.queensda.org