An Indonesian woman employed by a couple in Malta as a housemaid was forced to eat spoonfuls of salt by her employers because what she cooked was too salty, a court heard today.
The court was told that the alleged victim was only paid €6 for her year of work with her employers in Malta.
Testifying in the compilation of evidence against Harish Daswani, 38, born in St Julians but of Indian descent, Police Inspector Sylvana Briffa said Mr Daswani hit Oriance Kelin and smashed her head against the wall.
Mr Daswani is accused of human trafficking with the intent to labour exploitation, threatening the woman and breaching employment laws. He is pleading not guilty.
Inspector Briffa said the victim had claimed that her employer refused to let her go out and made a big fuss when she did.
She said Mr Daswani admitted that although he never paid Ms Kelin any wages, he had sent more than 2,000 Singapore dollars (€1,200) through Western Union to pay for her flights and to cover a loan she had. He said that he had not paid her because she had given him her bank details for him to deposit her wages and she did not want cash.
He said he did not like Ms Kelin’s work and had shouted at her but never laid a hand on her.
Inspector Briffa said Ms Daswani claimed she had even given his father the wrong medicine on one occasion.
Jehovah Witnesses volunteer Anita Kobacs told the court she knew Ms Kelin through her voluntary work and once arranged to meet her at a park.
She said that when she and her husband arrived, they found Ms Kelin talking to a woman, who they later learnt was a lawyer.
When the lawyer left, Ms Kelin told them what she had been subjected to. She looked very scared and terrified and showed them photos of the injuries she sustained she had taken on her mobile phone. Ms Kobacs said they bought her some food and took her to the shelter the lawyer had arranged for her.
Taking the witness stand, lawyer Katrin Camilleri, said she met Ms Kelin on June 8. Ms Kelin told she had been working for the Daswanis for a year and had only been given a total of €6.
She said she had no passport and was virtually a prisoner who was only allowed out for very short periods. On these occasions she met other Philippine house maids.
Dr Camilleri said she told Ms Kelin she could leave whenever she wanted and that the police would help her.
She said the victim had shown her photos of her injuries and told her that the Daswanis had told her she could not go to the police as they would not believe her because they (the Daswanis) would pay them out.
Mr Daswani is being represented by lawyer Steve Tonna Lowell.