Doctor suggests Lankan maid could have nailed herself

By MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS

RIYADH: A senior Sri Lankan physician and university lecturer said in a telephone interview on Sunday that the maid found with nails and needles embedded in her body could have inflicted the damage to herself.

"I wish to make it clear that this is not to say that she has not been tormented or tortured by her employer in Saudi Arabia," said Dr. Susirith Mendis from the University of Ruhuna. "It is possible that she self-embedded the nails (and needles) as a way to escape from her employer."

The case of L.T. Ariyawathi, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan housemaid, has drawn international attention after 24 nails and needles were found to have been pressed into the woman's legs, arms, hands and forehead.

Ariyawathi has accused her Saudi employers, a husband and wife, of doing this as a form of punishment since her arrival to the Kingdom in March. Sri Lankan officials are demanding a full investigation and justice while the Saudi Arabian National Recruitment Committee has dismissed the claims are baseless.

Mendis points out that there are worse cases of self-inflicted abuse in the medical literature from people suffering from Münchausen syndrome, a psychological condition where people feign trauma or illness in order to draw attention to themselves. The doctor urged Sri Lankan medical authorities to evaluate the woman psychologically before further communicating with the authorities in Saudi Arabia on this case. A medical report has been sent from Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia to help in the case.

The doctor added: "While it is possible, and understandable, that she did not tell anybody in Saudi Arabia — even the authorities there — about the alleged torture out of fear of further victimization, it is curious that she did not, on her return, inform her immediate relatives, or even the doctor, that she had been tortured by her employer, who is allegedly the one who inserted heated nails into her body."

The doctor also suggested that the position of the nails and needles in the maid's body, including those pushed into the flesh between the thumb and forefinger, are "common and safe places for self-inflicted object embedding."

In addition to this speculation about how the nails and needles ended up embedded in the maid's body, the Saudi daily Al-Yaum quoted on Sunday Hashim Al-Zaabi, a school principal in Al-Khafji, Eastern Province, claiming that Ariyawathi worked for his family 12 years ago and had performed "black magic" on his mother.

"I am ready to provide information against the maid during the ongoing investigation," Al-Zaabi was quoted as saying. "I know she is telling a lie by saying the sponsor planted nails in her body."

The case has enraged many in Sri Lanka, bolstering calls for a ban on the recruitment of maids for Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Jaufer, senior recruitment agent in Colombo, told Arab News that there was already a lobby working for this after a recent decision to reduce recruitment fees — the money agents charge to recruit maids for Saudi Arabia.

"Last month Saudi Arabian National Recruitment Committee entered into an agreement with its counterpart in Colombo to reduce the recruitment fees for housemaids from $1,500 to $1,000 which has reduced the agents' commission," he said. "They can earn more money by sending maids to other countries in the region."

Jaufer suggests these recruiters might be using this case to frighten domestics into going to other countries where the commissions aren't capped at $1,000.

Comments

RAJ

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It is possible to get experts to say anything if the money is right, even in USA experts say anything to cloud the issue.

Saudis have plenty of money.

Considering all the abuses, burning, jumping of balconies I dont believe this doctor for a moment. I am sure couple of million dollars in a Swiss bank account waiting for him.

pathetic.

N. FRANK

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There have been almost a thousand speculative comments regarding this issue so far and I think another speculative theory from a doctor was not necessary. If any body has the knowledge or the information to say either it is true or false, it is better for them come forward and say so,

M. ARUNAN

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Raj, It is the "usual" practice of many Sri lankans these days if anyone casts doubt on any unproven claims.

I guess L.T. Ariyawati hopes no one will query her claims....or bring in counter thought like that from this Doctor.

Obviously L.T. Ariyawathi probably thought that she could do the mimic the same viscous circles of lies, the transparency lacking and impunity rewarding to criminals Govt of Sri Lanka under Rajapksa brothers are doing to hoodwink the world.

RANJAN KUMARA

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This cooment id very unprofessional. This doctor could be given a huge amount of money from Saudi Arabia to hidden to prevent the dammage to Saudi Arabia. Actually Sri lankan doctos are taking large amount of money everywhere and do bad things such as abortions, this type of activities. This doctor' accounts should be checked. We request Sri Lankan Authority and the University of Ruhuna to take necessary action to to stop this type of unprofessional behavior of a medical doctor in a college.

DR WIMAL DISSANAYAKE

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Dr Susarith Mendis you are shame to Sri Lanka
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