A Filipina domestic worker in Cyprus was able to receive help after sharing a video of herself while being maltreated by her 68-year-old Cypriot employer.
In a secretly recorded video, the OFW identified only as Arlene cries as her employer assaulted her. The employer of the OFW is a retired police officer who threatened to sue her if she dares to report to the police.
“If you go to the police, I will tell them you stole money, I will make you pay dearly if you dare cause trouble for me,” the suspect said.
Arlene confessed that aside from physical abuse, her employer also calls her “useless”, “whore” and “slave”.
Image via Kathimerini Cyprus
Thankfully, the situation of Arlene has unfolded thanks to the Housemaids Association of Cyrpus led by Louis Koutroukides.
According to Louis, the Filipina visited their Limassol office in May and express her complaints regarding her employer. At that time, there was no complaint filed against the employer since she cannot produce evidence.
“Her boss called me up and threatened me that he would report me to authorities,” says Louis replying that his association is locally registered and that Arlene only asked for help.
Arlene had had enough of the maltreatment that she received from her boss and decided to think of her child in the Philippines instead.
“I didn’t want to go back to my country dead in a coffin,” says Arlene. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I was thinking about my baby. I didn’t want to go back to my country dead in a coffin.”
Finally, Arlene acquired evidence against her boss through a secretly recorded video.
“I watched the clip immediately and with tears in my eyes, I called the police and also dialed the 1460 hotline. I also uploaded the video on Facebook,” says Louis.
The Lakatamia police are already investigating the case of Arlene and the hearing will begin on September 28.
Source Ekathimerini
