Maid Awarded KD30,000 in Abuse Compensation

Kuwait's Appeals Court has confirmed a ruling requiring an expatriate resident to pay KD30,000 ($97,135) in compensation to a house worker who was abused by her employer. The court's decision comes after the defendant was convicted of torturing and detaining the maid at his residence in Mubarak Al Kabeer governorate.

The victim's lawyer accused the defendant of depriving her of freedom, physically assaulting her, and even burning her body. In addition to the compensation, the defendant has already been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for his role in the abuse.

The court described the KD30,000 as "legal blood money," acknowledging the significant material and moral damages inflicted on the maid. As a result of the abuse, the victim has suffered 25% disability to her body.

The woman’s ordeal began in 2021 when she started working for the defendant. She reported that he physically assaulted her with his hands and used wooden and aluminum sticks, claiming she was working too slowly. The defendant also restricted her movement, locking her in her room and withholding food.

Eventually, the maid was hospitalized, where she reported being detained and tortured. Medical reports confirmed multiple injuries, including broken elbows. The court's ruling also included the defendant’s deportation after serving his sentence, highlighting the seriousness of the crime and offering a sense of justice to the victim.