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US Jury Convicts Saudi Man of Imprisoning Indonesian Housekeeper


A jury in the western U.S. state of Colorado has convicted a Saudi national of keeping his family's Indonesian housekeeper captive for more than four years.

The jury found Homaidan al-Turki guilty Friday on 12 charges of false imprisonment, extortion and sexual abuse involving the woman, who al-Turki brought to the United States in 2000 to cook and take care of his wife and children at their home in a Denver suburb.

Al-Turki's wife pleaded guilty earlier to lesser charges.

The Indonesian woman, now 24-years-old, told authorities about her ordeal shortly after she was detained in November 2004 for overstaying her visa.

Al-Turki's attorney argued that cultural differences are behind the charges, and said the verdict would be appealed.

The 37-year-old al-Turki faces possible life in prison. He will be sentenced August 31.

He had worked as a linguist at a Denver publishing and translating company, and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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