Employer of scalded OFW in Saudi released, placed on third-party custody
The female employer of the scalded Filipino maid in Saudi Arabia was temporarily released from detention, but was placed under the custody of a third-party sponsor, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
In lieu of bail, a defendant in Saudi can file for temporary release to a third party, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
The Philippine Embassy learned about the release of the employer on May 27, Tuesday, when her Filipino victim, Fahima “Candice” Alagasi, appeared before the Prosecutor’s Office in Riyadh to give a formal statement on the incident.
“Our embassy found out from the prosecutor’s office that the employer has already been arrested but temporarily out of detention under the custody of a sponsor,” Jose told a press briefing.
However, he said the investigation of the case by the Saudi prosecutor will continue.
“Normally, [it’s] out on bail, but in this system somebody has to sponsor so she will not flee,” Jose said.
The sponsor, he explained, is responsible for ensuring that the defendant will attend the hearings and all required legal proceedings.
Alagasi, 23, suffered second-degree burns on her body after the mother of her lady employer scalded her with boiling water.
Prior to that incident, her employers also allegedly subjected her to verbal and physical abuse. Alagasi had only been working for them for only two months.
Alagasi was able to escape her employers and now under the care of the Philippine Embassy.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has issued a preventive suspension order on Alagasi’s recruitment agency, A-M Phil Professional Services Corporation, following the incident. The suspension order bars the firm from sending Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia. —KBK, GMA News
In lieu of bail, a defendant in Saudi can file for temporary release to a third party, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
The Philippine Embassy learned about the release of the employer on May 27, Tuesday, when her Filipino victim, Fahima “Candice” Alagasi, appeared before the Prosecutor’s Office in Riyadh to give a formal statement on the incident.
“Our embassy found out from the prosecutor’s office that the employer has already been arrested but temporarily out of detention under the custody of a sponsor,” Jose told a press briefing.
However, he said the investigation of the case by the Saudi prosecutor will continue.
“Normally, [it’s] out on bail, but in this system somebody has to sponsor so she will not flee,” Jose said.
The sponsor, he explained, is responsible for ensuring that the defendant will attend the hearings and all required legal proceedings.
Alagasi, 23, suffered second-degree burns on her body after the mother of her lady employer scalded her with boiling water.
Prior to that incident, her employers also allegedly subjected her to verbal and physical abuse. Alagasi had only been working for them for only two months.
Alagasi was able to escape her employers and now under the care of the Philippine Embassy.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has issued a preventive suspension order on Alagasi’s recruitment agency, A-M Phil Professional Services Corporation, following the incident. The suspension order bars the firm from sending Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia. —KBK, GMA News
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