Jeddah labor office turned over distressed maid to Saudi rapist

A distressed Filipino domestic worker in Saudi Arabia was raped by a Saudi recruiter who had promised to find her a new job with another employer, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.

The DFA said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office had turned over the victim, who had been staying at the Consulate General’s shelter in Jeddah, to the recruiter on the assurance that she would be hired by another employer.

But the recruiter brought the victim instead to a hotel where she was allegedly raped.

Suspect in custody

The recruiter was later arrested at the consulate after the victim managed to contact the labor office, which came up with an excuse to convince the Saudi man to bring her back to the consulate.

“The Consulate General in Jeddah said the suspect is now in custody after he was arrested by the authorities upon the request of consulate officials,” the DFA said. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan