Woman held captive for plans of forced marriage

A 42-YEAR-OLD Slovakian woman was allegedly held captive in Cataluña by a Pakistani who planned to marry her and obtain EU citizenship.  

She had met the man of 32 in Slovakia and, since both were coming to work in Spain, they decided to travel together. 

On arriving in Tortosa (Tarragona) her travelling companion revealed his marriage plans which the woman rejected. 

He kept her locked up in their apartment, threatening to kill her if she tried to ask for help. 

Desperate after more than 20 days of captivity, the woman rang the police in Slovakia and told them that she was being held against her will in Spain. 

She had no idea of where she was being held but said that she could see a red-coloured bridge above a river and had found a piece of paper in the apartment giving a Tortosa address. 

The Slovakian police informed Europol which in turn contacted Cataluña’s Mossos d’Esquadra who able to locate the apartment and free the woman. 

Her would-be suitor was arrested and later released after being charged with illegal detention.