MANILA, Philippines — The police officer accused of raping a Filipina migrant worker in Kuwait may face the death penalty if convicted of the crime.
Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh told Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs Sarah Lou Arriola yesterday that the suspect has been charged with rape in violation of Article 186 of Kuwait Penal Law No. 16/1960.
The law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment or death for anyone who would have sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent through the use of force, threat or deception.
Under the same law, the offender would be sentenced to death if he is an ascendant of the victim, defined as someone entrusted with her upbringing or welfare or vested with authority over her.
Citing Althwaikh, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Kuwaiti government has vowed to exert all efforts to arrest the suspect, previously identified as 22-year-old Fayed Naser Hamad Alajmy.
“Undersecretary Arriola was informed by Ambassador Althwaikh that an all-points bulletin has been issued to police and immigration posts in Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states,” read the DFA statement.
“Ambassador Althwaikh assured Undersecretary Arriola that the Kuwaiti government is exerting all efforts for the speedy arrest of the suspect,” it added.
The DFA said the victim has started working for her employer along with three other Filipina household service workers.
It said the Philippine embassy in Kuwait will continue to provide legal and other necessary assistance to her.
Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said they are monitoring the incident to ensure that her rights are protected.
“We condemn this act of sexual violence allegedly committed by no less than a member of the Kuwait airport personnel,” she said.
“We seek justice in her behalf, and urge the DFA and the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure that our aggrieved overseas Filipino workers’ rights are protected and upheld,” she added.
Gana is CHR’s focal commissioner for migrant workers’ rights.