Australian lawyer, 30, tells how she was raped daily, starved and kept prisoner by Muslim groomer after being lured to Pakistan
She was promised a life of luxury in a stunning Spanish-style villa in Lahore
A LAWYER who travelled to Pakistan to meet a Muslim man who groomed her on Facebook, only to be imprisoned, beaten and raped has shared her horrific ordeal.
Lara Hall, 30, flew to the city of Lahore on the promise of a life of luxury in his lavish villa after her relationship with "the man of her dreams" became more serious.
But when the 30-year-old arrived she was confronted with a filthy house which was strewn with litter and looking far from the pictures of the Spanish inspired villa she was shown on Facebook.
From that moment on her hellish ordeal began as Sajjad kept her prisoner, reports
The brute then began savagely beating and starving her for days.
Laura was forced to lie on her back with her legs open to "air out" her vagina and once he smashed her head against a bathroom sink because she missed a bit of shampoo.
She said: "Sajjad raped me and his brother attempted to rape me on multiple occasions.
"I was a kept woman, I was denied feminine hygiene products and had to bleed freely, I was starved over long periods of time — on one occasion up to 14 hours."
FORCED MARRIAGE
Sajjad tried to force her to marry him and convert her to Islam — but she refused his demands.
In a desperate bid for freedom she managed to contact the Australian consulate and High Commission but claims that she was let down by their response.
She was told that she should seek safety and call the police, but she told the that she was too scared to go to the authorities because she had overstayed her 30-day visa.
So instead, she messaged Dr Kaiser Rafiq, chief executive of the AFOHS club — a members-only club for armed forces officers and diplomats on Facebook.
Sajjad raped me and his brother attempted to rape me on multiple occasions
Grooming survivor Laura Hall
Finally, she had the courage to call the police after she barricaded herself in a bedroom. Luckily for the traumatised woman, they escorted her to a local station and she was put into Dr Rafiq's care.
After staying with him for two weeks, she moved to stay with another friend she had also met online - Rafi.
She flew with her friend to Islamabad to the Ministry of Interior.
Despite her tragic ordeal, she was threatened with prison for overstaying her visa, but luckily escaped with a fine and was told to leave the country.
She tried again to get help from the Australia embassy as she had no money to get back home, but was met with more red tape.
GROOMED ON FACEBOOK
Her ordeal began when she befriended a woman, Rhianna, originally from Pakistan, on a train in 2013.
The pair became firm friends, resulting in Lara teaching her English and becoming welcomed into Rhianna's family.
Lara, who battled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and had little family, soaked up her new-found adoration from Rhianna's parents.
One evening during a Skype call to Rhianna's family, she was introduced to Sajjad — a relative and according to him, a fellow lawyer.
They followed each other on Facebook and struck a friendship that went on for a few years.
For Lara, whose childhood troubles and mental health battles resulted in a breakdown, Sajjad's affection and caring messages helped her through.
WEB OF LIES
Sajjad told her that he could offer her a "grand amazing happy life" if she was to consider him.
Wanting shelter from her turbulent life in Sydney, Australia, Lara admitted she was "seduced" by his promises.
She told Daily Mail Australia: "He said he had five houses, he showed a purchase contract for a Spanish house he said we could live in and that I could decorate however I wanted - he even sent me pictures of the house.
"I was seduced by the promise of this amazing life with him. He would always say 'I'll fill all your blank spaces'.
And I'd known his family here for a long time."
To ensure that Lara was convinced that he was legitimate, Sajjad got in contact with Lara's twin sister, Amy, who was thrilled that Lara had found someone so loving.
He said he had five houses, he showed a purchase contract for a Spanish house he said we could live in
Lara
After years of chatting online, Sajjad asked Lara to join him at his brother's wedding in Pakistan which she had no reason to doubt.
Lara is now for fellow grooming victims who had also been let down by the Australian government.
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