A car wash owner has been slammed with eight years and six months behind bars for trafficking and exploiting eight Romanian nationals, including a 15-year-old boy. The Met’s Modern Slavery Unit cracked the case after a five-year hunt.
False Promises Turned Nightmare
Hewa Magari, 45, from Mitcham, lured the victims to the UK in late 2020 with lies about good jobs, fair pay, and decent living conditions. Instead, they were trapped in horrendous conditions at his car wash. The exploited workers were crammed into a tiny on-site room, forced to work without breaks, and suffered relentless physical and psychological abuse.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, things got worse. The victims were locked inside, unable to leave or access their passports, with Magari confiscating their IDs to keep them under control.
Police Rescue After Harrowing Tip-Off
On February 1, 2021, police swooped after a 15-year-old victim bravely reported his ordeal. Officers found seven adults and the teenager living in a shed beside the car wash. The victims, barely speaking English, revealed they had paid rent to Magari despite working only a few weeks before the lockdown shut down the business.
One female victim suffered a severe infection due to neglect, requiring hospitalisation and multiple surgeries.
Justice Served, Victims Reunited with Families
Magari was arrested in March 2021 after returning to the UK. At Kingston crown-court/" title="Crown Court" rel="nofollow">Crown Court, he was convicted on eight counts of holding people in slavery or servitude under the Modern Slavery Act.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Stubbins said: “The trauma the victims endured is unimaginable. Their courage helped us nail Magari and bring him to justice. Thanks to the team’s swift action, the victims were rescued and safely returned to Romania.”
All victims have since been safely repatriated with support from the Met Police and the International Justice Mission.
Magari also received a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order. Police urge anyone suspecting modern slavery in their communities to call 101 immediately.
