Udupi, Aug 27: The Saudi employer of a woman from Udupi, who was duped by an Indian travel agent and “sold” as house maid, has reportedly said that he would free the woman and send her back to India if his money was returned to him by the agent.
Jacintha Mendonca (47), a native of Karkala in Udupi, was recruited by Mumbai based 'M/s Trio Tracks Consultants' based in Mumbai and sent to Saudi Arabia on June 10.
In fact, Jacintha was promised a house nurse job in Qatar. Sub-agent James from Mangaluru had assured her a job in Qatar for a salary of Rs 25,000 per month. She left from Mumbai to Qatar but landed in Yanbhu, Saudi Arabia. There, she had to look after 10 children of three wives of the Saudi employer and was required to work for over 16 hours a day.
According to sources, Jacintha first landed in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and later was sent to Taif and thereafter to Yanbu to work with a lady relative of the sponsor, to whom the agent had sold her without her knowledge.
Officials from the Indian’s External Affairs Ministry and Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia have already taken up the issue with the authorities concerned in Saudi Arabia.
However, the woman’s kafeel (sponsor/employer) in Saudi Arabia is reluctant to send her before she completes her two-year contract. However, he has made it clear he would facilitate the return of the woman if Saudi Riyal 24,000 was returned to him.
To our request to send Jacintha to India, she reiterated her earlier stand and informed that she will be sent to India after 8 months, that is on completion of her two-year contract period," the email stated adding the embassy has twice requested the local authorities for their intervention and early repatriation of Jacintha to India and their response is awaited.
The Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), Udupi, which is working for safe return of Jacintha has urged the police to nab the agent who sent her to Saudi Arabia. Sub agent James was arrested recently.
"The police have failed to arrest main agent, who allegedly took money from Kafeel. If he is arrested and pressurised, there are possibilities that Jancitha may return early to her native," said Foundation president Ravindranath Shanbhag.
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