Raped, molested, kicked, abused: domestic helper’s horrible stories behind closed doors

A 24-year-old Indonesian domestic helper Putri alleged that she was raped by her male employer, whose wife then ordered her to undergo an abortion.

Another worker also said she was hit by her employer with a fishing rod, causing her hospitalization. Her boss was arrested by the police on Monday.

In a press conference held by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body yesterday, Putri said she arrived in Hong Kong in September 2019. She was sexually harassed and even raped by her employer living in Yuen Long after working for the couple for only a few days.

“I was very scared and shaking at that time. I wanted to leave but did not know where to seek help,” she said.

Through an Indonesian organization, Putri sought help from Mission for Migrant Workers in late April. She reported the case to the Tuen Mun police station.

In responding to media inquiries, police said they received a report on May 19 and arrested a 44-year-old man in Yuen Long on the same day.

The man has been charged with three counts of indecent assault and a count of rape, and the case was mentioned in Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on May 21.

Another Indonesian helper Ina also said yesterday that she has to take care of around 100 animals -- 75 dogs, eight turtles, eight large aquariums of fish and birds -- and clean up her employer’s fishing rods and other machine tools, but she was only allowed to sleep for five hours every day.

She added that the employer would often hit her, kick her, pull her hair and throw objects towards her regardless of whether those objects were heavy or sharp.

“On June 23, I just went to bed at 4am. Suddenly Sir woke me up at 5am. He was angry at me for not arranging the fishing rods the way he wanted. He used the fishing rod to hit my hands and temple. Then he told me to clean the front yard and kicked my leg,” Ina said.

“I was really in pain and exhausted. I just wanted to work in Hong Kong, but why did my employers treat me inhumanly like this?”

The police yesterday said they have arrested a 47-year-old man on Monday for common assault. He has been released on bail and the case is being investigated.

Community relations officer of Mission for Migrant Workers Johannie Tong Hiu-?yan said the number of domestic workers who reported being sexually harassed or abused tripled last year compared to 2019.

The number of physical abuse cases also increased by two percent last year, she said, urging the government to protect migrant domestic workers.