Maid files lawsuit against Malaysian diplomat in New York
Astro Awani
September 6, 2016 23:43 MYT
September 6, 2016 23:43 MYT
Image of house maid for illustration purposes only. A Malaysian diplomat and his wife have been accused of 'enslaving' their maid by making her work more than 15 hours daily, the New York Post reported.
A Malaysian diplomat and his wife have been accused of 'enslaving' their maid by making her work more than 15 hours daily with minimal pay, the New York Post reported.
According to the lawsuit filed by Parimaladevi Jeganathan, also known as Mala, Danish Kumar and his wife, Tamil Arasi Krishnan also prohibited her from leaving the house except to accompany the family to church.
They also told her that "black people" would "do something to her" if she did (leave the house).
Parimaladevi was employed by the couple in 2013 before her visa expired in 2014.
Tamil Arasi allegedly told her the visa renewal was costly, yet she still had to work for the couple or else she would be returned to Sri Lanka.
Parimaladevi decided to bring the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The agency brought her out of the apartment at East 43rd Street on March 6, 2014 and she now stays in a charity-funded safe house.
The lawsuit accuses the couple of violating laws designed to protect victims of human trafficking. It also accuses of them violating labor laws and contract laws.