Authorities have been able to further question the underage housemaid who was rescued from the hands of her abusive employers earlier this week, and the new details are horrific.
As Myanmar Now reports, the young girl, who has been identified as 13-year-old Khine Hnin Wai, revealed to officials that she was only fed one meal a day. She explained, “I was only allowed to eat lunch around 3pm. That was my only meal for the whole day.”
She also told them how she got some of the burn marks that covered her body. “The day I was branded with the iron, I didn’t tell them that the kettle was boiling so [Myat Noe Thu] threw the hot water at me. The injuries on my mouth were from when they scratched me with nails.”
“At night, I was only allowed to sleep once I finished all the ironing, which would be around midnight or 1am. In the morning, I had to be up before 6am.”
After repeatedly hearing screams from the apartment and seeing the girl’s wounds, neighbors and neighborhood officials came to the apartment while the couple was out, and took photos of the girl’s injuries to bring to the police. Khine Hnin Wai recalls: “U Myo, who repairs cassettes in our street, asked the neighbors to knock on the door and asked me to come out. They took photos of my injuries. I don’t know how U Myo knew.”
The girl had been working at the house for a little over a month. Although the pair agreed to pay her a monthly wage of MMK40,000, Khine Hnin Wai has yet to receive any money for her month’s work.
A doctor at the Thingangyun San Pya General Hospital where Khine Hnin Wai is currently receiving treatment told Myanmar Now that in addition to treating her physical injuries, they would also need to provide psychological counsel.
Before moving to Yangon, Khine Hnin Wai lived in a village in the Ayeyarwady Region with her sister and grandfather.
Both Htun Htun and Myat Noe Thu have pleaded guilty to the crimes, and are being charged under Sections 325 and 326 for causing grievous harm, as well as Section 114 for aiding and abetting.
