KUWAIT – A Kuwaiti court has ruled the death penalty for a Filipina household worker accused of causing the death of her employer’s 18-month-old son. The incident, which happened in Sabah Al Salem in December of last year, has sparked concern both in Kuwait and the Philippines, with proceedings now advancing to the next level of legal review.
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Investigation and Court Proceedings
Authorities state that the domestic helper admitted to placing the young child in a washing machine after being disturbed by his behavior. The toddler’s cries quickly drew the attention of his parents, who found him critically injured. They rushed him to Jaber Al Ahmad Hospital, but the child was declared dead on arrival due to the severity of his injuries.
During the investigation, the suspect reportedly confessed to her actions. The Kuwaiti court ordered a mental health examination, which determined she was fit to stand trial. After reviewing the evidence, the court delivered a guilty verdict and imposed the death sentence.
DMW Response: Legal Support and Emphasis on Due Process
In reaction to the court’s decision, the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) released a statement sharing condolences with the child’s family and concern for the convicted worker. The DMW stressed its ongoing commitment to providing legal and consular aid, ensuring proper legal representation and monitoring the welfare of the OFW throughout the appeals process.
The department also emphasized respect for Kuwait’s legal system while underscoring that this case is an isolated incident and does not reflect the values of millions of Filipino workers abroad.
Please see the full statement below:
𝗣𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗴 𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗗𝗠𝗪) 𝘀𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝗼 𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮 𝗞𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁
Malungkot na ibinabahagi ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) ang balita tungkol sa ating kababayan sa Kuwait na hinatulan ng kamatayan matapos masangkot sa pagkamatay ng anak ng kanyang employer. Nakikiramay kami sa pamilyang Kuwaiti sa kanilang pagkawala, at kasabay nito ay nakikiramay kami sa mabigat na pinagdaraanan ng ating manggagawang Pilipino at ng kanyang pamilya.
Mula nang lumabas ang insidente, agad na nagbigay ng legal at konsular na tulong ang DMW kasama ang Department of Foreign Affairs at ang Philippine Embassy sa Kuwait. May abogado na humahawak sa kaso at ginagamit ang lahat ng legal na proseso sa ilalim ng batas ng Kuwait, kabilang ang pagsusumite ng apela. Patuloy ding binabantayan ng Embahada ang kanyang kalagayan upang matiyak na nirerespeto ang kanyang mga karapatan. May assistance din po kaming binibigay sa pamilya ng ating OFW, para masiguro po na hindi madadamay ang kanyang mga anak sa mga masakit na kaganapan.
Iginagalang natin ang batas ng Kuwait, ngunit malinaw ang mandato ng pamahalaan: ipagtanggol ang karapatan at dignidad ng bawat Pilipino saan man sila naroroon. Hindi namin kayo iiwanan. Gumagawa kami ng lahat ng hakbang—legal, diplomatiko, at makatao—para matiyak na makakamtan ng ating kababayan ang patas at makatarungang paglilitis.
Ramdam namin ang lungkot at bigat sa damdamin ng kasong ito. Kami ay humihiling lang po ng pang-unawa at pagtitiwala habang maingat at matatag naming tinutulungan ang ating kababayan na harapin ang kasong ito.
Mahalagang idiin na ito ay isang isolated na pangyayari at hindi sumasalamin sa pagkatao at kagandahang-asal ng milyun-milyong OFW na kinikilala sa buong mundo dahil sa kanilang malasakit, sipag, puso at propesyonalismo.
Tinitiyak ng DMW na sa oras ng tagumpay at sa oras ng pagsubok, kasama ninyo kami. Mananatili kaming kumikilos nang may malasakit, talino, at tapang—para sa katarungan at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino saanman sa mundo.
Reactions from Both Countries
The case made international headlines, especially in the Philippines where over 220,000 Filipinos currently work in Kuwait, many as domestic staff. Philippine officials expressed condolences to the grieving Kuwaiti family and emphasized that incidents of this nature are extremely rare among Overseas Filipino Workers. The Department of Migrant Workers urged the public not to judge the entire OFW community by this single tragic event.
Under Kuwaiti law, a death penalty verdict does not take immediate effect. The case will automatically move to the appellate court for review, and may reach Kuwait’s highest tribunal, the Court of Cassation, before a final decision is enforced. This multi-step legal process is standard in capital cases in the country.