FDW serious issue

[PNGMK]

Tough one. Perhaps speak to some of the support groups for foreign workers in Singapore before you call the police.

I'd also suggest you speak to my lawyer about it (PM me). He's renowned for getting young Indo maids off death row because of their age - he'll have some idea of how to handle it sensitively.

[zzm9980]

I don't think, even with all the pontificating here, that anybody would expect Steve to fall on his own sword because she "might" not have known what she was getting into. Let's call a spade a spade. He has to think of numero uno FIRST.

I'm trying not to sound like a liberal hippy, but I'm just saying to do it with compassion. He isn't living with a cold blooded murderer or rapist, he's has essentially a naive child. The talks about locking her down to prevent "runners" and calling the police to pick her up ASAP etc seem a bit harsh.

[zzm9980]

My take-away was 'All this bad stuff is going on, and the state acquiesce/don't care'.

Pretty much, yes! And the state always seems to have the "Ok whatever, la" attitude about it the same way individuals in SG have that attitude about maids being mistreated. 'Human Trafficking' isn't exclusively crime lords drugging up teenage girls and auctioning them off in secret meetings of underground millionaires like in the movie 'Taken'. I have no doubt a very large double digits percentage of the FDWs here (and other similar places like HK) had no clue what they were getting into or signing up for.

One of the 'nice' girls I chatted up at OT one time told me she thought she was coming to work in a 'cafe' which turned out to be a KTV in Geylang. She then moved herself to OT so she could make more money to pay it down faster. At least, she told me this. Her English was pretty good, so it's quite possible she felt a good sob story might be a unique angle for more customers. It got me to buy her a drink at least.

[zzm9980]

Tough one. Perhaps speak to some of the support groups for foreign workers in Singapore before you call the police.

I'd also suggest you speak to my lawyer about it (PM me). He's renowned for getting young Indo maids off death row because of their age - he'll have some idea of how to handle it sensitively.

Best advice in the thread IMO, and this is what I was hoping Steve would do but didn't have the personal knowledge to suggest it. Not sure if it's too late.

[Strong Eagle]

Tough one. Perhaps speak to some of the support groups for foreign workers in Singapore before you call the police.

I'd also suggest you speak to my lawyer about it (PM me). He's renowned for getting young Indo maids off death row because of their age - he'll have some idea of how to handle it sensitively.

Definitely the best advice. At this point, no one except you and your wife know the true circumstances. I'd try to find the path that ensures no culpability on your part, while doing all possible to minimize the negative consequences to a 17 year old girl who is obviously going to be in deep sh*t for having confessed.

[Hannieroo]

Steve, do you have a solid support network? Do you need help?