A Filipino domestic helper was found dead at an empty luxury flat in Kowloon City on Wednesday, in what is believed to be a suicide by charcoal inhalation, Ming Pao Daily reports (as translated by EJI).
Although the 36-year-old maid, referred to as Janice, was based at another location, she was occasionally sent to clean the unused flat in Earl Gardens, initial investigations show.
Her employer only discovered what had happened after she sent staff to look for her missing maid on Tuesday. Janice was found unconscious in the bathroom.
No suicide note was found, nor was there any indication of foul play, according to police.
It is believed that the maid had run up debts of around HKD100,000, which she was unable to pay back to a financial firm.
According to Leo Tang, an official of the Hong Kong Asian Domestic Workers Unions Federation, foreign maids are sometimes asked by recruitment agencies to take out loans to cover expenses. However, interest rates are typically very high, causing the maids to fall into huge debt.
If you are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, please call the Samaritans’ 24-hour hotline on (+852) 2389-2222 or (+853) 2896-0000 for help.
