A Hong Kong District Court has fully backed the compensation claim by former Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, who was abused for up to seven months in 2014 by her female employer, Law Wan-tung, in a case that made international headlines.
In its ruling delivered on Thursday, the court gave its backing to a civil lawsuit filed by Erwiana seeking HK$810,000 (US$103,725) for physical and psychiatric damages, noting that the plaintiff’s claim for that amount was “modest and restrained.”
The amount is a total of damages covering pain, suffering and loss of amenities (PSLA), pretrial loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, pretrial expenses, future medical expenses, and other items.
Law was sentenced to six years in jail in 2015, in a trial that attracted international coverage, with many people shocked by the case of modern slavery.
Details of Law’s abuse of the maid were again revealed in Thursday’s judgment, including the insertion of a metal vacuum-cleaner tube into Erwiana’s mouth, and another incident where she was stripped, sprayed with cold water and then forced to stand naked and wet in front of an electric fan one winter day.
“Having considered the evidence as a whole, I accept in full the factual account given by the plaintiff as true,” High Court Judge Winnie Tsui said in her judgment.
“The defendant’s conduct was physically abusive and violent. Her treatment of the plaintiff was inhumane, degrading and abhorrent. It was meant to bring about humiliation, distress and loss of human dignity.
“The plaintiff had suffered profoundly. The circumstances of this case clearly warrant the award of aggravated damages. It should be granted in addition to the ‘basic’ PSLA award made above as compensation for the distress and humiliation which she was forced to go through by the defendant,” Tsui said.
It has been revealed that Erwiana has suffered from depression, headache, insomnia, nightmares and post-trauma syndrome. She now lives in Indonesia, pursuing a degree in economy and management.
The compensation lawsuit was filed in March but Erwiana discovered that Law, her former employer, had transferred her 50% share in the ownership of an apartment worth HK$7.65 million in Beverly Garden, in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O district, to her husband, Apple Daily reported.
Law denied in the November hearing that she was trying to dodge the compensation.
Read more: Jailed boss of abused maid Erwiana denies compensation dodge
well deserved sentence.
What a sad news… I appreciated so much the law system here in HK, truly no one is above the law! We are all human.
we loves you hongkong
wakes up abusive employer time to start trearlting youre maids with dignity snd respect inagine youre naid cleans up youre meds weather you poood ind the toilet you vomit youre maid will stand with that situation so pls be nice and kind to every one dont do to others the things others dont want then do to you
Be alarmed you abusive employers. Be nice to your helpers.
Really no one is above the law, whoever is found guilty will be sentenced according to his crime. We salute the HK law system….we do hope that more abused helpers will file complaints against their employers…
Wonder How to send my personal congratulations to the Courts ?
Should paid her that amount and she deserved …
Employers who are abusive should put to jail for life time or do also the same as they did to erwaina so that they know how hard and pain she suffered ..
Crazy employer
The employer should serve 10 years without remission and confiscate her home and give to the helper…. Disgraceful behaviour and sets a wrong impression worldwide
What’s the sad news?
Sad – referring to the maid who suffered so much from that evil employer.
100 hkd is already a big help so be thankful instead of questioning Alsisa Sisco
Hongkong is one of the best law in the world. Whoever you are, if you are right you will deserve it 🙂
Congratulations Erwiana!
This is a very big victory for all of the Indonesian migrant workers 🙂
Pau Baday today is good news, she had justice served.
Raymond Moore sir, yes I know that and so grateful to the judge who ruled and made it right. Hoping not to be happened again with others(OFW) like me.
Agree. I respect and like their law system!
I wish all the domestic helpers who suffered maltreatment fr.employers like this case were treated alike but there are only few who got lucky to push the law to see through there cases.
you can not easily wake up an employer who is under the demons command
Justice served but the pain and scars can’t be healed in her memory,money is useless because she has a trauma already.Hope this serve as a lesson to those who are abussive human.Sad but truth
I love hong Kong Law is Law here.
i brought my ticket and receipt to their shop in worldwide and they gave me 100 without further question.. thank u very much Frankie…
Pau Baday Indeed I hope it should never happen to anyone
I hope, the rule of law will be observed in all SARs of China, like how it is in Hong Kong, most especially to protect the plight of all foreign domestic helpers.
Raymond Moore
Correct Sir Raymond Moore….it’s a good news..atleast they achieved justice..thanks for the Law here in hongkong..
It doesn’t matter if you transfer your asset to your husband the only matter is you go in jail and who knows you might lost your mind thinking your dignity is already gone…poor you LAW..you may rich but your dignity is poor…