Diamond necklace as compensation after maid dies in Saudi Arabia

Dubai, Feb 7 (UNI) The family of a 28-year-old Sri Lankan maid who was starved to death by a Saudi couple who had hired her was given a diamond necklace worth Rs 40,000 and cash equivalent to the same amount by the recruiting agency as compensation.

The maid had come to Saudi Arabia five years ago to work and fund her brother's heart surgery. But her employers did not pay her salary and also deprived her of food. Vasanthi died in October 2005, the autopsy found.

Her employers were arrested but eleased later. The compensation received by a Sri Lankan embassy official will be sent to the maid's impoverished mother who lives in Gonapola, a remote village in the island state.

The compensation is only part payment of her unpaid labour which alone came to Rs 2.5 lakh. The Saudi authorities did not disclose the name of the cruel sponsors to Arab News, which reported the case.

UNI XC ARB MIR KP1330