Woman promised job in Kuwait recounts 'nightmare'

TNN

Saturday, August 2, 2014

For Subi, her experience in Kuwait is enough to sustain her fight — against those who caused her misfortunes and for those who suffer in similar situations. The beautician from Pampady near Kottayam in Kerala had escaped from her recruitment agent and returned home safely after spending around 25 days at the shelter home of the Indian embassy in Kuwait.

Subi had gone to Kuwait through a recruitment agency in Kozhikode on June 16. However, instead of the promised job of a beautician, the agent sold her to an Arab couple for Rs 3 lakh for the job of a house maid. She managed to convince the couple that she was cheated by the agent, following which they returned her to the agent and took back the money.

However, the agent locked her up in a room and demanded money for releasing her. He wanted her husband to pay Rs 55,000 to release her. "I had already spent Rs 1 lakh for going to Kuwait, of which Rs 75,000 was paid as fees to the agent," she said. "I have two children aged 5 and 3 and I had gone to Kuwait to meet the expenses for my children's education and constructing a house."

After remaining captive in a room for over a week, Subi got a chance to call her husband Sijo, who is a driver. "The caretaker lady, who was a Sri Lankan, was drunk that night. She forgot her mobile phone on the table while leaving and I used the opportunity to call my husband. He gave me the number of a person from our locality, who was in Kuwait. I called him and informed him about the situation," she said.

After getting an assurance from the person that he will pay Rs 55,000, Subi was taken to the agent's office. However, Subi escaped from the office and was helped by a Pakistani taxi driver to reach the Indian embassy. After staying there for around 25 days, she returned to Kerala on July 20 after chief minister Oommen Chandy's office intervened in the matter. Pambady police have directed her to file a case with Kozhikode police as the recruitment agency is based there. d i cheat on my girlf

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