Abuse claims denied after maid jumps from balcony
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 4 April 2007
THE sponsor of an Indian housemaid, who broke her back when she jumped from a third-floor apartment balcony, has denied she was abused.
She was free to have walked out the door, instead of jumping nearly 60 feet, said the policeman.
He said the 30-year-old maid, named on her CPR only as Nagamani S, was apparently depressed.
“There was no mistreatment,” said the sponsor, who lives in Riffa. She was apparently depressed, but what I do not understand is that why she had to jump from the apartment when she could have just walked out.”
Abuse claims denied after maid jumps from balcony
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 4 April 2007
THE sponsor of an Indian housemaid, who broke her back when she jumped from a third-floor apartment balcony, has denied she was abused.
She was free to have walked out the door, instead of jumping nearly 60 feet, said the policeman.
He said the 30-year-old maid, named on her CPR only as Nagamani S, was apparently depressed.
“There was no mistreatment,” said the sponsor, who lives in Riffa. She was apparently depressed, but what I do not understand is that why she had to jump from the apartment when she could have just walked out.”
He said she went out several times a day to throw out the rubbish and do other chores.
“She should have just left from the front door. We would not have known. This way, she has harmed herself,” said the Bahraini. He said the incident happened at around 5am on Monday.
“I called for the ambulance and they took her to BDF Hospital. She was later transferred to Salmaniya Medical Complex,” said the sponsor.
“I have given a statement to the police that she tried to run away and jumped. I can only say no one in our family had any hand in her actions.”
A heavily sedated Nagamani told the GDN through an interpreter from her hospital bed on Monday that she was repeatedly beaten by her sponsor’s wife.
Nagamani underwent a four-hour operation for a broken spine on Monday night.
“We hope she will be all right. However, it is difficult to say anything at the moment, until she comes out of sedation,” said an SMC doctor.
An Indian embassy official visited Nagamani in hospital yesterday. “We are establishing contact with the doctors and her family and looking at various possibilities,” a spokesman said yesterday.
Officials of the Telugu Kala Samiti community organisation also visited Nagamani and took details about her family.
“We will do the best we can to help her in every possible way,” said honorary general secretary Prasad Rao.
Ms Nagamani said she tried to escape several times.
“In desperation, I jumped from the balcony. I had no idea I would be so badly hurt,” she said.
Ms Nagamani said all she wanted was to get back to her unemployed husband and three children.
“I was promised a salary of BD40 every month, I came to Bahrain in January this year through an agency,” she said.
Ms Nagamani said she borrowed a large sum of money to get here. “I came because I wanted a better future for my children,” she said.
Hospital staff said they were not sure who Ms Nagamani worked for. “We do not know how she got to BDF Hospital, but she was brought here by their ambulance,” said a doctor.
© Gulf Daily News