Kuwait court convicts another Pinay of murder
KUWAIT CITY - A criminal court in Kuwait has convicted a housemaid from the Philippines of murdering her employer's daughter and sentenced her to death, the maid's lawyer said Monday.
Attorney Khalil al-Qattan said Jakatia Pawa was appealing the ruling a criminal court handed to her Sunday. He said it would take around two weeks to get the court's explanation of its ruling. Kuwaiti tribunals routinely do not provide the explanations on the same day they issue decisions.
"There is no evidence she committed the murder," al-Qattan said. Pawa had worked for the family for five years and had no motive to stab to death their 21-year-old daughter, Dalal al-Naqi, as she slept, he added.
"She denied the accusation during the police investigation and in court," the lawyer said. The murder took place in last May.
Claro Cristobal, spokesman of the Philippine foreign affairs department, confirmed the reported conviction of Pawa, a 31-year-old domestic helper from Zamboanga del Norte.
“The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait will continue assisting Pawa and appeal the verdict before the Kuwait’s court appeals," Cristobal said in a text message.
News reports from Kuwait said the victim was asleep at dawn of May 14, 2007 in the Al Qurain district, south of Kuwait City, when she was killed.
The Kuwait court's verdict must be confirmed by the court of appeals and cassation and then endorsed by Amir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah before it can be carried out.
Pawa herself was reported to be seriously injured when she jumped from the second floor of her employer's house after the attack. She was admitted at the intensive care unit of a hospital for several days.
While defense lawyers demanded that she be examined by psychiatrists to determine her mental health, the court turned down the request.
Two other domestic helpers from the Philippines have recently been convicted of murder in this small oil-rich Gulf state. Their death sentences are final and appeals have been exhausted.
Marilou Ranario and May Vecina face death by hanging unless the country's emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, commutes their sentences or the families of the victims forgive them.
Last December, Philippines president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, made a special trip to Kuwait to plead for Ranario's life. At the time, the president's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said Sabah promised to reduce the penalty to life in prison and further cut it if the victim's family sign a forgiveness note.
However, there has been no announcement to that effect from Kuwaiti authorities.
The Philippines government has also said it will not "stop looking for ways to save" Vecina.
Kuwaitis and other nationals largely depend on cheap Asian labor for housekeeping. More than 500,000 domestic helpers from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and India work in this country that has a population of over 3 million. Complaints of nonpayment of salaries and physical abuse of the domestic helpers are common. - AP, with Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV
Attorney Khalil al-Qattan said Jakatia Pawa was appealing the ruling a criminal court handed to her Sunday. He said it would take around two weeks to get the court's explanation of its ruling. Kuwaiti tribunals routinely do not provide the explanations on the same day they issue decisions.
"There is no evidence she committed the murder," al-Qattan said. Pawa had worked for the family for five years and had no motive to stab to death their 21-year-old daughter, Dalal al-Naqi, as she slept, he added.
"She denied the accusation during the police investigation and in court," the lawyer said. The murder took place in last May.
Claro Cristobal, spokesman of the Philippine foreign affairs department, confirmed the reported conviction of Pawa, a 31-year-old domestic helper from Zamboanga del Norte.
“The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait will continue assisting Pawa and appeal the verdict before the Kuwait’s court appeals," Cristobal said in a text message.
News reports from Kuwait said the victim was asleep at dawn of May 14, 2007 in the Al Qurain district, south of Kuwait City, when she was killed.
The Kuwait court's verdict must be confirmed by the court of appeals and cassation and then endorsed by Amir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah before it can be carried out.
Pawa herself was reported to be seriously injured when she jumped from the second floor of her employer's house after the attack. She was admitted at the intensive care unit of a hospital for several days.
While defense lawyers demanded that she be examined by psychiatrists to determine her mental health, the court turned down the request.
Two other domestic helpers from the Philippines have recently been convicted of murder in this small oil-rich Gulf state. Their death sentences are final and appeals have been exhausted.
Marilou Ranario and May Vecina face death by hanging unless the country's emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, commutes their sentences or the families of the victims forgive them.
Last December, Philippines president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, made a special trip to Kuwait to plead for Ranario's life. At the time, the president's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said Sabah promised to reduce the penalty to life in prison and further cut it if the victim's family sign a forgiveness note.
However, there has been no announcement to that effect from Kuwaiti authorities.
The Philippines government has also said it will not "stop looking for ways to save" Vecina.
Kuwaitis and other nationals largely depend on cheap Asian labor for housekeeping. More than 500,000 domestic helpers from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and India work in this country that has a population of over 3 million. Complaints of nonpayment of salaries and physical abuse of the domestic helpers are common. - AP, with Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV
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