Hong Kong employer guilty of torturing her Indonesian maid

A Hong Kong employer was accused of torturing her Indonesian domestic worker Erwiana Sulistyaningsih on Tuesday at Hong Kong's District Court.

Employer Law Wan-tung, 44, was found guilty of 18 of 20 charges including grievous bodily harm, criminal intimidation and failure to pay wages or give time off work to Erwiana.

The case had gained international attention about a year ago after photos of Erwiana's injuries spread among Indonesians in Hong Kong. From those photos, her face, hands and legs covered with scabs and lacerations.

District Court Judge Amanda Woodcock said on Tuesday that this was a case in which she had to rely solely on the evidence of the witnesses, "I am sure the defendant did assault, would and threaten Sulistyaningsih as charged."

The court found that Law had threatened to kill Erwiana and her family. Law told the maid that her husband was rich and had lots of connections in Indonesia. That's why Erwiana was afraid of reporting her.

The court imposed an order for Law to pay Erwiana some 28,800 HK dollars, the salary she owed the maid.

The Judge sought two reports to study Law's mental state and adjourned the case to Feb. 27 for mitigation and sentence. Law was remanded in custody.

Erwiana said she felt happy about the result, " I can forgive Law Wan-tung but justice must be upheld."

Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matthew Cheung said the government welcomes the court judgment, finding an employer guilty of maid abuse.

Cheung stressed the administration will continue to do more to protect the rights and well-being of foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong.