Hong Kong woman jailed for abusing Indonesian maid Erwiana admits life behind bars is ‘hell’ and still insists she was framed
Speaking from behind bars, Law Wan-tung, 44, says her family has collapsed, she can’t sleep or eat well, and she cries constantly
The woman jailed for abusing Indonesian domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih has accused the worker of plunging her into “hell”, while describing her own plight in jail and insisting she was framed.
“I feel like I am in hell. I have been yelled at, and people are treating me as if I am a bad person,” said Law Wan-tung, 44. “I feel wronged. I am afraid, sad and frustrated, but I don’t know what I can do.”
“Since I have been here, I miss my family and I am worried that no one is looking after my children. I don’t sleep and eat well. I always cry,” she added.
Law’s remarks were made to Next Magazine through family members who visited her at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution last week. Her claims were flatly denied by the city’s largest domestic helper group, who said Law was being “delusional”.
READ MORE: Hong Kong woman who abused Indonesian maid Erwiana tells court she was bullied in jail
Law was convicted on 18 of 20 charges brought in December 2014, eight of which were for assault and criminal intimidation of Erwiana and another Indonesian maid she had employed, Tutik Lestari Ningsih. She is serving a six-year sentence.
“I have been in jail for a year. My family has collapsed. I can’t live with my family and take care of my husband and children. I have lost my freedom. The outside world said I am a demon, a female devil, but I am just a regular housewife,” she said.
She also said that Erwiana had a “strange illness” and that the domestic helper had refused to see the doctor.
“I have never abused Erwiana. First, I have paid her, and there were receipts to prove that. She has signed the receipts as well. But she chose to act innocent. Second, I have offered her days off, but she said she did not want days off as she would rather have more money,” Law said.
“Third, I did not lock her up. She knew how to open the lock and enter and leave freely. Fourth, the prosecution had no evidence,” she continued.
READ MORE: Indonesian helper, 23, in critical condition after alleged beatings by Hong Kong employers
Eman Villanueva, a rights advocate who supported Erwiana since the horrific abuse was exposed in 2014, said Law was being “delusional” because she could not stand living in prison.
“The judge is not stupid. If Law was really framed, the judge would have known,” said the spokesman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body.
“Even when Erwiana was grilled in court, she never changed her story. She was clear what has happened to her,” said Villanueva.
