HK woman who tortured maid guilty of 18 charges
Print Edition
A HONG Kong woman accused of torturing her Indonesian maid in a case that sparked outrage for the scale of its brutality has been convicted on a number of assault and other charges.
A judge found Law Wan-tung guilty of 18 charges including grievous bodily harm, criminal intimidation, and failure to pay wages or give Erwiana Sulistyaningsih time off work.
The case highlighted the vulnerabilities of migrants working as domestic staff across Asia and the Middle East.
It gained widespread attention about a year ago after photos of the maid’s injuries circulated among Indonesians in Hong Kong. They showed her face, hands and legs covered with scabs and lacerations, and blackened, peeling skin on her feet.
District Court Judge Amanda Woodcock said that based on the testimony by the maid and other witnesses: “I am sure the defendant did assault, wound and threaten as charged.”
The court heard that Law punched Sulistyaningsih in the mouth, fracturing some teeth; jammed a metal vacuum cleaner tube in her mouth, cutting her lip; and hit her on the back with a feather duster while she was sleeping. Law also forced her to stand naked in the bathroom during winter while she splashed water on her and pointed a fan at her.
Sulistyaningsih, who worked for Law for about eight months from June 2013, also wasn’t allowed any days off and was not paid her salary.
Law, who was found not guilty on two other charges, was ordered to pay the maid about HK$28,800 (US$3,700) in outstanding wages.
Law was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on February 27.
After the verdict, supporters applauded the maid, who was in court. She told reporters outside that she was happy “because I will get the justice from Hong Kong.”
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