Kuwaiti woman sentenced to death for torturing, killing Pinay maid

Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN News (2nd UPDATE) A Kuwaiti criminal court handed Wednesday a death verdict by hanging to a Kuwaiti woman who tortured to death a Filipino domestic worker, Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, due to jealousy. Her husband, on the other hand, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for covering up and not reporting the crime. Philippine embassy lead counsel, Atty. Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah, said the court’s ruling is fair and in compliance with the law and Sharia. "Alhamdullilah! We got justice for Jeanelyn," said Sheikha Fawzia, a Kuwaiti human rights lawyer. In a statement, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait welcomed the decision of the Kuwaiti court, and thanked all the officials who helped in seeking justice for Villavende. "Newly accredited Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Mohd. Noordin Pendosina N. Lomondot wishes to sincerely thank Secretary Locsin and the DFA for all the assistance that was extended while the Embassy is fighting the case in court," it said. "May the court’s decision on the Villavende murder case serve as a reminder to everyone that no Filipino is a slave to anyone, anywhere and everywhere, and that justice will always come to the defense of the weak and the oppressed," the embassy added. Ambassador Lomondot also thanked Sheikha Fawzia and the Kuwait government for the ruling. "This is really good news to end the year. I would like to thank Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah and her team for working hard on the case. Justice is finally served to Jeanelyn Villavende who suffered in the hands of her employers. Thanks also to the Kuwait government for this swift justice," Lomondot said. Villavende died on December 28, 2019 at the hands of her employer. Her embalment certificate said she died due to “acute failure of heart and respiration as result by (sic) shock and multiple injuries in the vascular nervous system.”