KUWAIT CITY, June 25: The employers of a Filipina household service worker, who was allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse, have been charged with attempted murder at the Attorney General’s Office in Jahra, Dalidig Ibrahim Tanandatu, the Head of the Assistance to Nationals Unit at the Philippine Embassy disclosed Saturday. Tanandatu stated that the embassy lawyer, Atty Adel Al Fhraisi, elevated the charges from sexual harassment and grave physical injuries to attempted murder based on the affidavit executed by Cristy, not her real name, before the Attorney General. “The Attorney General has already issued a warrant of arrest against the female employer, her mother and her brother and we hope that they will be arrested soon and face the charges leveled against them,” he stressed.

Tanandatu reiterated the embassy’s strong resolve in helping Cristy in her pursuit for justice as she was allegedly maltreated severely by her female employer and relatives who hit her on several occasions, poured liquid bleach on her and inserted chili peppers into her private parts.

Cristy, 24, married with three kids and a native of Manila, arrived in Kuwait last March to work as a household service worker for a Kuwaiti family.

Cristy, whose hands were blistered due to the liquid bleach, and had bruises and hematoma on various parts of her body, is temporarily housed at the Filipino Workers Resource Center after escaping from her employers on June 12. The bandages on her hands were finally removed as the blisters started to heal. There are only a few traces of hematoma now. “I just came from the hospital to have my wounds dressed. I can use both of my hands now unlike before. I just want to thank my colleagues here at the centre for helping out when both of my hands were heavily bandaged,” she stated. She also thanked the Philippine Embassy for the assistance that she has been getting since she sought refuge.

She recounted that she cried hard when she saw her parents on the primetime news on The Filipino Channel appealing to the Philippine government for help. “I’m really sorry for what had happened. I don’t want them to worry so much, especially my mom. I just want them to know that I’m doing fine and recovering well with the help of kind people around me. My family wanted me to go home now but as much as I want to, I just can’t till I get the justice due me, otherwise they will continue to victimize other maids like me,” she pointed out.

Cristy also started her counseling session on Wednesday with a volunteer Clinical Psychologist to help her overcome the traumatic experience that she has gone through. “We are extending all the possible assistance to Cristy and with the help of our volunteer doctor, we hope that she can process out the trauma that she has experienced,” explained Philippine Labour Attache David Des Dicang.