U.S. diplomat fled to Australia after being accused of the cruel slavery and sexual abuse of her African housekeeper

A former U.S. diplomat who fled to Australia after being accused of the cruel slavery and sexual abuse of her African housekeeper is believed to have paid a seven-figure settlement.

Linda Howard and her husband Russell were ordered to pay $3.3million in damages in 2012 after the Ethiopian-born maid claimed she was repeatedly raped by Mr Howard - who has since died.

The housekeeper, identified only as Jane Doe, said Russell Howard repeatedly raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on at least 10 different occasions. 

Linda Howard first hired the woman, who was 31 at the time, when she was posted at the US Embassy in Yemen, according to court records. 

Russell Howard was only living at the home for the first three weeks of the woman's employment before leaving for Australia, where he is a citizen. 

In the months the woman worked for Linda Howard in Yemen there was no abuse and in 2008 she agreed to move with her employer to Japan, where Mrs Howard had received a new posting.

The woman said she was repeatedly threatened with deportation and was also forced to work 80 hours a week, seven days a week, and rarely permitted to leave the house alone - isolating her from the outside world. 

Meanwhile, Linda Howard told the housekeeper she should make her husband happy and 'fulfill his needs', the complaint states. 

Russell Howard also told the woman Linda wanted them to have a threesome and, according to court papers, said the couple once had sex with another maid while she was 'drunk and passed out'. 

After living in a 'constant state of terror' for four months, the woman fled on foot in the middle of the night, wearing every piece of clothing she owned. 

She found a women's shelter in Tokyo, which reported the abuse to US Embassy officials in the capital. A few weeks later, Linda Howard was removed from her overseas position.