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Woman charged over Birmingham slavery offences

A woman has appeared at court today in Birmingham charged with slavery offences after four men were found in squalid conditions at her address.

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Unemployed Vasilica Panaghita, 54, of Alum Rock Road, Birmingham was charged in the early hours of this morning with four counts of knowingly holding another person in slavery or servitude.

Panaghita was remanded in custody to next appear at Birmingham Crown Court in April.

Police visited the address on Monday as part of enquiries into the welfare of those at the address where they found four men in a lean-to building at the property.

The men are believed to have been at the address for approximately a year. They are currently being cared for by the Salvation Army.

Eight people - four men and four women - were also arrested in connection with trafficking offences. All eight have been bailed pending further enquiries.

West Midlands Police said they had been assisted by the National Crime Agency in the investigation.

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