Rugby star cleared in French 'slavery' case

Finau Maka. Photo / Facebook

PARIS - Tongan rugby star Finau Maka shed tears of relief yesterday after he emerged from a French court with his name cleared of allegations that he had "enslaved" an illegal migrant who lived and worked at his Toulouse home for four years.

The 33-year-old backrower said he was "just overwhelmed" at the end of a five-month ordeal which began with a 24-hour spell in police custody and ended with a trial marked by emotional scenes of accusation and denial.

"I am totally relieved," Maka said outside Toulouse court, where he came to hear the verdict. "My name is now cleared. The last couple of months have been hectic for both me and my family."

The trial focused on claims that Maka illegally hired, housed and abused an illegal immigrant Tunisian man at his home in the Toulouse suburb of Beauzelle, where he carried out renovation and then decoration work.

The Tunisian, Moncef Derbali, said he had been Finau's slave for four years, forced to live in a tiny brick hut at the bottom of the garden and be at his beck and call.

Apart from a one-off payment of €2800 ($5180) to his mother, Maka never made good on his promises to pay him, Mr Derbali said.

Maka said he was dismayed at the charges, contending that he had only sought to help a man who was homeless and in need. Mr Derbali, he said, had lived like a member of his family. "As a Tongan, it is part of our culture to care and help people in need," he told the court.

At a trial session in September, the public prosecutor agreed that Maka was not guilty of slavery but urged the court to convict him on a count of illegal labour and fine him €5000.

The court ruled yesterday that there was insufficient evidence to support this charge.

"Finau Maka has been discharged. I simply cannot understand this decision," Mr Derbali's lawyer, Eric Zerbib.

He said he would ask the public prosecutor if he intended to appeal. An appeal can be filed within 10 days.

Mr Derbali felt "bewilderment and disgust", Zerbib said.