Kuwait Times

Published Date: July 26, 2010
By Ben Garcia, Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is exploring the possibility of retaining the Fawzia Al-Sabah Law Firm to help resolve the cases of two Filipinas who were separately brutally murdered in Kuwait last week. Attorney Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah met yesterday with Philippine Ambassador Shulan Primavera and Vice Consul Rea Oreta to discuss the case. During the meeting both sides agreed in principle to the possibility of the law firm representing the embassy in the two brutal murder cases.

Most probably, upon the DFA's [Department of Foreign Affairs] approval, we will hire their services to help us with these two particular cases," said Vice Consul Oreta. "They have expressed their interest in helping us in these cases, so we are grateful indeed for their willingness to support [us].

The news of the brutal murders of the two Filipinas last week attracted international attention, as well as widespread coverage in Kuwait. One of the women was allegedly killed by her own husband at the beauty salon where she worked, while the other was allegedly murdered by her employer.

Norhaisa Nasa Andao, the 32-year-old beauty salon worker, was stabbed to death 31 times in front of her horrified colleagues at her workplace in Jabriya. Meanwhile, Asria Samad Abdul, 34, was allegedly tortured by her employers before they took her to a deserted area of Kabad and ran over her several times with car to ensure she was dead.

The suspects in both cases are now in the custody of Kuwaiti police and there have been investigations going on at Kuwait Fiscal's Office before the legal proceedings could start at the Court of First Instance. Commenting on the possibility of being appointed as a lawyer for the two Filipina victims, Sheikha Al-Sabah said, "I will stand myself as their lawyer; my law firm will not just represent them, but I will appear in the court personally to handle their case fully.

As the chairperson appointed by Kuwait's parliamentary human rights committee, Sheikha Al-Sabah commented that in this capacity she will exert every effort to help see that justice is done in prosecuting the two murder cases. Asked for the latest news about Andao and Asria's cases, Vice Consul Oreta stressed that both cases have been receiving positive attention. In the case of Asria, however, according to Oreta, the prosecutor's office is currently awaiting complete medical and legal reports.

This information was received only today; the employer is now denying their employment of Asria, but when the prosecutors summoned Asria's recruitment agency, they confirmed that Asria was given to the couple to work for them as a housemaid," she said. Also earlier news reports claimed the couple has admitted their crimes. The Philippine Embassy had promised to do all it can to obtain justice for the two Filipinas if not the maximum penalty for the culprits.