Erwiana Sulistyaningsih case has encouraged other Indonesian helpers working in Hong Kong to come forward about similar beatings.
One particular Indonesian worker, nicknamed Bunga, had worked for the same employer’s as Erwiana’s, who allegedly abused Erwiana.
Bunga told the SCMP at a “Justice for Erwiana” protest outside the Indonesian consulate in Causeway Bay yesterday that the female employer abused her for 10 months and she was never allowed out of the apartment and even when the family was out, she was locked inside the house in Tseung Kwan O.
Bunga also recalls an incident where the female employer threatened to throw her off the balcony if she didn’t beg for her life. Bunga said she was on her knees asking the female employer to beat her as much as she wanted but not to kill her as she had a son.
Bunga was saved when her family called the employment agency for help but she never reported the incident to the police as the agency convinced her not to and the employer had threatened to pay Indonesian police to kill her family if she ever said anything.
Bunga wished she had come forward then as it would have saved Erwiana from the situation she is in now. She’ll be happy to cooperate with the police.
See related:
Shame on us: Hong Kong in international spotlight over tortured helper
Police launch investigation into alleged abuse of Indonesian maid
Employer beats helper with stick and pours boiling water on her
Photo: Anthony Wallace, AFP
