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Saudi princess arrested in California

IRVINE, Calif., July 11 (UPI) -- Saudi Princess Meshael Alayban has been charged in California with human trafficking for allegedly forcing a Kenyan woman to work as a servant, police said.

Alayban, 42, was arrested early Wednesday at her Irvine home.

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She allegedly forced the woman to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for only $220 a month, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A judge ordered Alayban held in lieu of $5 million bail.

Orange County prosecutors identified the defendant as one of the wives of Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.

Her attorney, Paul S. Meyer, said his client never physically abused or restrained the victim, the Times said.

The servant told police she was contacted through an agency in Kenya to work for Alayban.

She agreed to work for two years with a salary of $1,600 a month. But after more than a year of excessive hours and low pay, the servant left the home Tuesday and contacted police.

Officers went to the home and found four other people working under similar circumstances, the Times reported.

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No charges had been filed in those cases, authorities said.

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