Published: Friday, 2 May, 2008, 03:35 AM Doha Time
By Nour Abuzant AN Egyptian woman has been sentenced to death by firing squad for the murder of her Filipina maid.
A Doha court heard that the victim, 24-year-old Melissa Tagoi, had suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of her employer, Abeer Zaki Ibrahim Mohamed, over a period of six months.
When the young woman’s body was recovered it was heavily bruised, some of her teeth were missing and it was clear that she had been starved of food.
As well as passing down the death sentence, the court ordered the woman’s husband Mohamed Radi el-Shahat Mohamed, 40, be jailed for three years for negligence. The family was further ordered to pay QR150,000 blood money to the maid’s relatives.
The horrendous crime came to light on June 22, 2007, when the maid’s body was discovered in the bathroom of the family home in Doha’s Hilal area.
According to legal papers, the 30-year-old Egyptian began to physically assault her maid after her five-year-old son complained he had been mistreated.
The mother’s revenge was swift and brutal.
According to the child’s testimony, given to police officers investigating the crime, his mother regularly assaulted the maid, sometimes tying her to a chair to prevent her escape.
The maid, who came to Qatar 14 months before she was murdered, was also denied food and her weight at the time of her death was a pitiful 39kg.
The child further said his father, the general manager of a private construction company, had witnessed the abuse but never intervened to save the maid.
A source, who saw Melissa’s body, said it was likely that she had been battered with a hot iron.
“There were bruises on the arm and some of her teeth were also missing,” he said.
Lawyer Noora Sarhan, representing the victim’s civil rights, said that she would now file a civilian case against the husband and wife.
She has presented to the court a memo proving that the Egyptian woman had a previous intention to end her maid’s life.
“I can say justice was done. The acts of the family were barbaric over a period of time and that ended sadly with the death of the poor housemaid,” she said.
who was killed without previous intentions or intend to kill that person. Just like car accidents, but in this case I think that anything less than killing that person would be fair ...
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
it is because the maid whom ever she is, has no means to report to the authorities because they are trapped and sorounded by high walls. the employer never give any single form of communication to the poor maid so that she can talk to her relatives. cannot go out because all doors are locked.
i think the best way to prevent this kind of mal treatment is to lay down rules when hiring the maid. they should be given day off, allow them to have cellphones, should have a regular visit by the authorities to monitor their safety and conditions (embassy or labour dept. representative). in this case the abussive employers might avoid doing any harm to thier maids. and the case like this might be avoided.
i know the arabs anticipate all kinds of problems before it occurs why they never anticipate this horrible incidents. life is life no matter who own it be it maid or president. protect humans, protect life...
There are so many documented Filipino workers who are treated like slaves by their employers... Problem is, legally they are limited due to inadequate legal protection and representation.. I handled a case myself in Saudi.. similar situation, fortunately, positive result.. but not everybody who are trapped in this cycle of violence are as lucky as my client..
It is true that Filpino migrant workers are the modern day heroes of the Philippines.. They risk life and limb just to support their families back home and shore up our economy... Problem is, when their rights are violated, legal representation for them is elusive in these foreign countries.. I think the volume is too large for all of them to be legally protected by the legal teams in place in the embassy.. I suggest that lawyers in the Philippines should try to assist these abused workers through resorting to diplomatic channels and means which may help these workers abroad..
On a related note, I think that the presence of GMA in the middle east for state visits in some way has encouraged Filipino overseas workers in these hotspots for maltreatment and abuses.. She may not be as popular as the other past presidents, but her travels to these places have made these foreign governments aware of some of the plight of our workers.. I handled a case myself for a migrant worker who was imprisoned because he was a member of an NGO which champions the cause of migrant workers. He was arrested while he was documenting runaway Filipinas before they were turned over to the Phil. Embassy.. I mean, my point is, its so hard to fight for one's rights when one is in a foreign territory . Chances are, the odds are against our fellow Filipinos.. I may not agree with some of the political decisions of GMA, but she together with VP de Castro are doing their best to address the concerns of our migrant workers.. kudos to them both.
MANILA, Philippines -- A Middle East-based Filipino workers’ organization urged the government on Thursday to press for the speedy investigation into the death of a domestic helper who allegedly jumped out of her employers’ car in Qatar last month.
Migrante-Middle East suspected foul play in the death of Noliza Leynes, 24, and called for a thorough investigation.
The group also asked the Philippine Embassy in Qatar to make the proper representation on behalf of the Leynes family, according to an e-mail from John Leonard Monterona, the Saudi Arabia-based Migrante-ME regional coordinator.
To remove suspicions of a cover-up, an independent autopsy must be performed on Leynes’ remains before repatriation to Manila. Leynes’ remains are still at the Hamad Medical Corp. hospital in the capital Doha, the group said.
Qatar media reports said Leynes jumped out of the car that she was riding in on March 22. She died from head injuries on March 28, exactly three months after her arrival in Qatar on December 28.
Leynes’ mother, Corazon Magnaye, earlier went to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for help after being informed by her daughter’s recruitment agency that she was comatose.
Magnaye said her daughter called her on March 20 and 21 and told her that her Egyptian employer sexually harassed her. On a second occasion, the employer ordered Leynes to undress, Magyane reported.
Magnaye also told the DFA that her sister, Edith Vargas, called the Philippine labor office in Doha as well as Leynes’ recruiter in Manila, Dreams Manpower Recruitment, to report that Leynes was sexually abused by her employer.
Monterona said embassy officials in Qatar should not be reluctant to push for a thorough investigation to ultimately identify the culprit and file a case against him.
“Leynes’ relatives are crying for justice,” he said.
Migrante noted that the DFA and Vice President Noli de Castro earlier vowed to look into the death of Leynes but so far, no results have been made public.
Leynes’ grieving family in Lipa and Tiaong, Quezon have been wondering what happened to her case, said Migrante.
This treatment is an exception, a very sad one. Treatment of live-in maids varies between houses, but most people treat them well
We try to treat them as human beings, and almost part of our family, we eat the same food, and try to give them a light load of work , time to rest, whatever they need ...etc.
The swift justice system is something new that nobody has gotten used to yet. and nobody is above the law.
I do not advocate the death penalty, however I do applaud the Qatari legal system not only for punishing the perpetrator but for doing so this quickly. In some countries, this would have dragged on for years.
psychos, i hoped if he got the same sentence too as an accessory in murder, because this wasn't a sudden event, the poor women was tortured for long time.
This is not about Egyptian and Filipino. It's about man's inhumanity to man. How any civilized person can do this to another human being is beyond comprehension. I sincerely hope that the sentece is carried out and she doesn't get off on an appeal.
regardless of race, religion, colour, nationality, gender - a person MATTERS!
As maids are very vunerable and are all sponsored why isnt there a mandatory checking system! Where they get peridoic full health check and interview????
The litany of horrendous torture is absolutely repulsive. Now lets hope that the son of this family gets therapy and can live a fufilled life.
we are all humans ... Why do we do this to each other? If you did not like your maid simply ask for someone else to replace her, but doing something brutal like that :( God ...
I feel terrible pain in my heart now added to different kind of pain that I'm having from hearing such stories ...
Why we humans forget about everything and became monsters? WE should put the religion a side, the country a side and everything else a side while treating each other or dealing with each other and just accept the fact that we are all humans belong to Adam and Eve ...
Not to the east or west ... not to the north and the south ... not to the Arabs and the Foreigners ... not to anything else ... Forget about all of this CRAP people and wake up ... before it is too late ..
Just treat me as a human, if you will ignore that we all are nothing but brothers and sisters and that there is a reason to be created like that ... not to assault each other, humiliate each other, kill each other like that ... WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A HUMAN SOUL :(
If you will run over a cat in the middle of the street you will feel sad about that, so how about killing a human? :( wondering how do some people got the courage to do such things :(
So sorry to hear that ... but that is not enough ... something should be done to stop this craziness all over the world ...
Again, I can see the end of this world soon ...
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
One life's wasted....She only wants a better future for her family,and this is what she get. But looking at the brighter side,Justice served,and may her soul rest in peace....
Everyday i beat my own previous records,for the number of days i have stayed alive!
I have never been in favor of the death penalty but in this case I am. Why don't they reveal the name of the biatch that did this horrendous crime.
She killed a young woman in the prime of her life. I don't think live-in maids should not be allowed. They always get abused in some way whether it is physical abuse, sexual abuse, or being worked like a slave and having no freedoms or rights.
The law should be amended that maids should be provided with their own apartments and set working hours and anybody who hits or mitreats them should go to jail.
This story is so sad. A tragic loss of life preceded by torture. How could this have been allowed to happen? Why is the blood money to the poor girl's family only QR120,000. They should seize all of the assets of the Egyprian family and give everything to the girl's family.
Just call me Tigasin. That's what I'm talking about
whenever i would hear certain new as this.. i can't help but feel angered towards those people who maltreated others.. EVERYONE got no right to physically abuse another fellow person....
my prayers to the affected families....
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
Discrimination should change beginning from how we see ourselves.
It's not just we are "only" Filipinos. We are HUMAN BEINGS.
And, to be HUMANE is very basic in all major religions.
I have been in a service business and I empathize to the work of a maid.
I pray that GOD will watch over this case and give her justice.
If I were in her family's shoes, I will still demand for more. I'll probably forward the criminal's name to every email that exists until it reaches the right people who cares for the Human Rights.
For this case, I hope the investigators will have luck in getting the truth.
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May the soul of that poor maid rests in peace !
Now she can rest in peace,,
It happens also to other "kadama" even not filipino, and hope the justice will be equal to everyone,
atleast her soul is now resting in the peace of god... i felt so sad when reading the article.
"Try to work for someone who'll challenge your powers.
You'll learn more in a year than 4 years of college."
what court ruled the sentence?
the sentence may be appealed and changed!
the sadistic woman is still alive!
is she still in qatar? is she in custody?
it took more than 2 years for the court to decide.
the death penality in qatar is by firing squead?
many points to be clarified.
i am pessimistic. my money on that the egyptian will live to see another day. hope not.
Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.
who was killed without previous intentions or intend to kill that person. Just like car accidents, but in this case I think that anything less than killing that person would be fair ...
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
I'm sorry, 'justice has been done'?
150,000 QR is equal to a persons life now is it?
That is less than some luxury cars.
I think that 'price-tag' is a total insult, and while it is nice that she has been avenged morally, monetarily this was a final act of abuse.
it is because the maid whom ever she is, has no means to report to the authorities because they are trapped and sorounded by high walls. the employer never give any single form of communication to the poor maid so that she can talk to her relatives. cannot go out because all doors are locked.
i think the best way to prevent this kind of mal treatment is to lay down rules when hiring the maid. they should be given day off, allow them to have cellphones, should have a regular visit by the authorities to monitor their safety and conditions (embassy or labour dept. representative). in this case the abussive employers might avoid doing any harm to thier maids. and the case like this might be avoided.
i know the arabs anticipate all kinds of problems before it occurs why they never anticipate this horrible incidents. life is life no matter who own it be it maid or president. protect humans, protect life...
There are so many documented Filipino workers who are treated like slaves by their employers... Problem is, legally they are limited due to inadequate legal protection and representation.. I handled a case myself in Saudi.. similar situation, fortunately, positive result.. but not everybody who are trapped in this cycle of violence are as lucky as my client..
It is true that Filpino migrant workers are the modern day heroes of the Philippines.. They risk life and limb just to support their families back home and shore up our economy... Problem is, when their rights are violated, legal representation for them is elusive in these foreign countries.. I think the volume is too large for all of them to be legally protected by the legal teams in place in the embassy.. I suggest that lawyers in the Philippines should try to assist these abused workers through resorting to diplomatic channels and means which may help these workers abroad..
I am proud
On a related note, I think that the presence of GMA in the middle east for state visits in some way has encouraged Filipino overseas workers in these hotspots for maltreatment and abuses.. She may not be as popular as the other past presidents, but her travels to these places have made these foreign governments aware of some of the plight of our workers.. I handled a case myself for a migrant worker who was imprisoned because he was a member of an NGO which champions the cause of migrant workers. He was arrested while he was documenting runaway Filipinas before they were turned over to the Phil. Embassy.. I mean, my point is, its so hard to fight for one's rights when one is in a foreign territory . Chances are, the odds are against our fellow Filipinos.. I may not agree with some of the political decisions of GMA, but she together with VP de Castro are doing their best to address the concerns of our migrant workers.. kudos to them both.
Justice seems slow but at least it still prevails here and in some places.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Admit your mistakes...before someone exaggerates the story."
simpablo, that is another case that all of us must look into. i hope there will be justice soon for ms. leynes.
kadaut...
Probe into maid’s death in Qatar pressed
By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:43:00 04/23/2009
MANILA, Philippines -- A Middle East-based Filipino workers’ organization urged the government on Thursday to press for the speedy investigation into the death of a domestic helper who allegedly jumped out of her employers’ car in Qatar last month.
Migrante-Middle East suspected foul play in the death of Noliza Leynes, 24, and called for a thorough investigation.
The group also asked the Philippine Embassy in Qatar to make the proper representation on behalf of the Leynes family, according to an e-mail from John Leonard Monterona, the Saudi Arabia-based Migrante-ME regional coordinator.
To remove suspicions of a cover-up, an independent autopsy must be performed on Leynes’ remains before repatriation to Manila. Leynes’ remains are still at the Hamad Medical Corp. hospital in the capital Doha, the group said.
Qatar media reports said Leynes jumped out of the car that she was riding in on March 22. She died from head injuries on March 28, exactly three months after her arrival in Qatar on December 28.
Leynes’ mother, Corazon Magnaye, earlier went to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for help after being informed by her daughter’s recruitment agency that she was comatose.
Magnaye said her daughter called her on March 20 and 21 and told her that her Egyptian employer sexually harassed her. On a second occasion, the employer ordered Leynes to undress, Magyane reported.
Magnaye also told the DFA that her sister, Edith Vargas, called the Philippine labor office in Doha as well as Leynes’ recruiter in Manila, Dreams Manpower Recruitment, to report that Leynes was sexually abused by her employer.
Monterona said embassy officials in Qatar should not be reluctant to push for a thorough investigation to ultimately identify the culprit and file a case against him.
“Leynes’ relatives are crying for justice,” he said.
Migrante noted that the DFA and Vice President Noli de Castro earlier vowed to look into the death of Leynes but so far, no results have been made public.
Leynes’ grieving family in Lipa and Tiaong, Quezon have been wondering what happened to her case, said Migrante.
I dont know what the OP means by fellow Filipina.
If it had been someone else other than his country fellow what would he have said?
This treatment is an exception, a very sad one. Treatment of live-in maids varies between houses, but most people treat them well
We try to treat them as human beings, and almost part of our family, we eat the same food, and try to give them a light load of work , time to rest, whatever they need ...etc.
The swift justice system is something new that nobody has gotten used to yet. and nobody is above the law.
Is this treatment the norm or exception? Is there a group here na tinatakbuhan ng mga inaapi na ganito?
I do not advocate the death penalty, however I do applaud the Qatari legal system not only for punishing the perpetrator but for doing so this quickly. In some countries, this would have dragged on for years.
I'm happy to see the Legal System in Qatar work.
That woman doesn't deserve her life if she can take someone's own. Poor woman.
___________________________
Click here for LOADS of Qatar info I♥Q <-- (Expat and Local Info)
I hope its all come to fair justice. Amin
Everybody is right everybody is wrong it depends where you stand.
psychos, i hoped if he got the same sentence too as an accessory in murder, because this wasn't a sudden event, the poor women was tortured for long time.
This is not about Egyptian and Filipino. It's about man's inhumanity to man. How any civilized person can do this to another human being is beyond comprehension. I sincerely hope that the sentece is carried out and she doesn't get off on an appeal.
regardless of race, religion, colour, nationality, gender - a person MATTERS!
As maids are very vunerable and are all sponsored why isnt there a mandatory checking system! Where they get peridoic full health check and interview????
The litany of horrendous torture is absolutely repulsive. Now lets hope that the son of this family gets therapy and can live a fufilled life.
we are all humans ... Why do we do this to each other? If you did not like your maid simply ask for someone else to replace her, but doing something brutal like that :( God ...
I feel terrible pain in my heart now added to different kind of pain that I'm having from hearing such stories ...
Why we humans forget about everything and became monsters? WE should put the religion a side, the country a side and everything else a side while treating each other or dealing with each other and just accept the fact that we are all humans belong to Adam and Eve ...
Not to the east or west ... not to the north and the south ... not to the Arabs and the Foreigners ... not to anything else ... Forget about all of this CRAP people and wake up ... before it is too late ..
Just treat me as a human, if you will ignore that we all are nothing but brothers and sisters and that there is a reason to be created like that ... not to assault each other, humiliate each other, kill each other like that ... WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A HUMAN SOUL :(
If you will run over a cat in the middle of the street you will feel sad about that, so how about killing a human? :( wondering how do some people got the courage to do such things :(
So sorry to hear that ... but that is not enough ... something should be done to stop this craziness all over the world ...
Again, I can see the end of this world soon ...
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. (Gautama Buddha)
One life's wasted....She only wants a better future for her family,and this is what she get. But looking at the brighter side,Justice served,and may her soul rest in peace....
Everyday i beat my own previous records,for the number of days i have stayed alive!
YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!
[img_assist|nid=98090|title=New|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]
I have never been in favor of the death penalty but in this case I am. Why don't they reveal the name of the biatch that did this horrendous crime.
She killed a young woman in the prime of her life. I don't think live-in maids should not be allowed. They always get abused in some way whether it is physical abuse, sexual abuse, or being worked like a slave and having no freedoms or rights.
The law should be amended that maids should be provided with their own apartments and set working hours and anybody who hits or mitreats them should go to jail.
This story is so sad. A tragic loss of life preceded by torture. How could this have been allowed to happen? Why is the blood money to the poor girl's family only QR120,000. They should seize all of the assets of the Egyprian family and give everything to the girl's family.
Just call me Tigasin. That's what I'm talking about
justice for all!!!
"Even if LOVE is full of thorns, embrace it. For in between those thorns there is a ROSE that's worth all the PAIN."
whenever i would hear certain new as this.. i can't help but feel angered towards those people who maltreated others.. EVERYONE got no right to physically abuse another fellow person....
my prayers to the affected families....
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
Really... can people be so cruel to a human being.... ????
at least somehow justice has been given to her.
and thank god that we are so blessed.........
[img_assist|nid=90050|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=161]
Discrimination should change beginning from how we see ourselves.
It's not just we are "only" Filipinos. We are HUMAN BEINGS.
And, to be HUMANE is very basic in all major religions.
I have been in a service business and I empathize to the work of a maid.
I pray that GOD will watch over this case and give her justice.
If I were in her family's shoes, I will still demand for more. I'll probably forward the criminal's name to every email that exists until it reaches the right people who cares for the Human Rights.
For this case, I hope the investigators will have luck in getting the truth.
at least justice still prevail here in Arab country eevn if we are only Filipinos...
I know marami pa yatang ganun ang trato sa mga maid nila dito...