The hand of ‘Norlita’, who was allegedly beaten by her sponsor, is seen at Mubarak Hospital yesterday.

KUWAIT: A 42-year-old Filipina housemaid miraculously escaped death after trying to escape from her employer's home, but was severely injured in the process. Norlita (not real name), claimed that she was fleeing her sponsor, a police officer, after he severely beat her, and in her attempt fell while climbing down from the rooftop.

Now at Mubarak Hospital, the woman has undergone major surgery and is awaiting further surgeries to repair damage to her spine and other injuries sustained in the beating and the fall. She told Kuwait Times, in the presence of Philippine Charge d'Affaires and Consul General Raul Dado and ATN Officer Mar Hassan, that she was beaten severely by her sponsor, a police officer. She alleged that he slammed her to the ground several times, smashed her head against the wall and floor and strangled her before severely whipping her head with a police belt.

Norlita, who could barely speak, can only move her head and one hand - the rest of her body is paralyzed, although it's unclear if this is temporary or permanent damage. "I was trying to escape when I fell from the second floor," she narrated. "My sponsor strangled me with his hand and flung me about many times. He hit my head against the wall and floor and told me he could kill me any time because he is a police officer," she said. "I was afraid and tried to flee from the roof, and from there I accidentally fell. Before the fall, I was still very groggy and could hardly see and stand, because I was very scared. I was begging God and praying not to take my life because have five small children to feed and I know they need me," she cried. "Thank God I am alive - He listens to prayers."

According to the woman, she suffered physical, emotional and mental abuse for the past several months. The final attack took place on Friday over her use of a telephone to make calls. "My sponsor found out that I was using the phone to call my family. He took the phone away from me and smashed it in front of me so I could not communicate with my family. Then he started beating me and cursing me. He said he's going to kill me," she said.

Norlita, who hails from Sto Tomas, Davao, transferred to her new employer only four months ago. "I finished my two-year contract with my previous employer and went back to my family in Davao. I decided to apply again, and this police officer was my employer when I came back. He has a wife who only watched, but could not do anything," she said. Dado said the embassy will exert all legal remedies to help Norlita.

By Ben Garcia