ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Three individuals in St. Charles County have been arrested for keeping an international student in their basement as a slave.
Venkatesh Reddy Sattaru, Nikhil V. Penmatsa and Sraban Penumetchaare are all facing charges of trafficking for the purposes of slavery, kidnapping, abuse through forced labor and many more.
According to Saint Charles County Prosecutor Joe McCulloch, the victim was a 20-year old who was a relative of Sattaru, who came to the U.S. on a student visa from India. The victim lived with Sattaru, but the relationship soured in April, when the abuse started to begin.
McCulloch says the reason why the relationship soured remains under investigation.
Sattaru would keep the victim locked up in a basement, being monitored by a surveillance camera, and the victim would be forced to sleep on concreate floors.
During that time, Sattaru would force the victim to work his IT company and given menial tasks, like complete morning and evening chores and give Sattaru two-hour massages.
However, the victim didn't do it properly to Sattaru's standards, he would suffer to physical abuse by Sattaru and his accomplices.
"He was kicked, stomped at times," said McCulloch, "At least he was beaten with electrical wiring, along with PVC Valves and other instruments."
In some instances, Penmatsa and Penumetchaare would video call Sattaru to insure the pain the victim suffered to Sattaru's satisfaction.
The victim is currently hospitalized with multiple fractures to his hands, feet, arms, nose and ribs, which are all in various stages of healing. The victim is also being treated for lacerations and scarring covering his complete body.