Kuwait City: A Kuwaiti woman is facing trial for failing to help her Ethiopian maid who was attempting to commit suicide from the seventh floor of a building.
According to Al Qabas newspaper, the Public Prosecutor ordered the woman to be questioned today for the second time prior to her referral to the court to stand trial.
The suspect denied any neglect claiming that she didn’t pull the maid up for fear she would fall with her as she is 'too heavy for her'.
The Public Prosecution questioned the employer for the first time and charged her with neglect and failing to help a person in imminent danger.
Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti Society for Human Rights urged legal action against the employer.
The Kuwaiti woman filmed her maid land on a metal awning and survive, then posted the incident on social media, Al Seyassah newspaper reported.
The 12-second video shows the maid hanging outside the building, with one hand tightly gripping the window frame, as she begs for help in an apparent last-minute change of mind.
The woman holding the camera is heard telling the hanging maid: "Oh crazy, come back."
The terrified maid is seen screaming 'hold me, hold me', just before her hand slips and she falls down to hit the awning, which appears to soften the impact.
The employer made no reaction as she continued filming.
Later, paramedics rescued the maid and rushed her to hospital where she was found to have suffered nose and ear bleeding and a broken arm, the newspaper said.
The criminal investigation police referred the employer to the prosecution over failing to help the victim, the daily said.
The reasons for the maid's attempted suicide were not revealed.
A report in Al Anba newspaper said that the defendant claimed she was only trying to have concrete evidence which proves her innocence, in case she is accused of involvement in her maid’s death.
The oil-rich Gulf state is home to more than 600,000 domestic helpers, a majority of them Asians, many of whom complain of abuse, mistreatment and non-payment of wages.
Hundreds of maids escape their employers every year over abuse, and the government has set up shelters for them. Some seek help from their embassies.