Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy senate president, and his wife, Beatrice, could be sentenced to life in prison for organ harvesting under the United Kingdom's Modern Slavery Act 2015 if proven guilty and given the maximum term (MSA 2015).
The couple was detained and accused of bringing a kid to the UK so that organs might be harvested. As a result, they were charged on June 23, 2022, at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.
According to the London Metropolitan Police, an investigation into the pair was started after detectives were made aware of possible violations of the modern slavery statute in May 2022.
Organ harvesting falls under the umbrella of human trafficking, which is illegal in the UK and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
The act partly reads, “Under s 2, an individual commits an offence if they arrange or facilitate the travel of another with a view to that person being exploited. It is irrelevant whether that person consents to the travel, or whether they are a child or an adult.
“Under s 3 of MSA 2015, exploitation includes: slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour; sexual exploitation (which involves the commission of an offence under s 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Children’s Act 1978 (indecent photographs of children), or Pt 1 of SOA 2003 (eg, rape or sexual assault); removal of organs where a person is encouraged required or expected to do anything which involves the commission of an offence under ss 32 or 33 of the Human Tissue Act 2004 (prohibition of commercial dealings in organs and restrictions on use of live donors); securing services etc by force, threats or deception; securing services etc from children and vulnerable persons (eg, physically or mentally ill or disabled).”
It further stated that anyone found guilty of “human trafficking is liable on summary conviction to 12 months’ imprisonment and/or unlimited fine,” adding that “on conviction on indictment, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.”
According to information from UK media, Ekweremadu's daughter required a kidney transplant. He brought a 15-year-old homeless child into the UK using a passport that was unlawfully obtained and falsely said that the youngster was 21 in order to address this issue. A better life was guaranteed for the youngster. Bail has been rejected for the former Senate President and his wife.
