Dubai: A woman who was raped and stabbed several times by a Kuwaiti Traffic Police officer in October, 2012 and left for dead finally flew back home to the Philippines, a Kuwaiti daily Kuwait 24 reported on Monday. The victim was left stabbed and hurt at a desert in South Surra. She left on Sunday morning after eight years of fighting for justice.
Marissa, 35, a native of T’Boli, South Cotabato in Southern Philippines was among the over 300 Overseas Filipino Workers who were on board the Kuwait Airways chartered flight organised by Al Tayer Travels on Sunday morning.
“I’m filled with mixed emotions. I can’t explain what I feel right now. I’m filled with happiness and at the same time nostalgic, looking back at the eight long years of fighting for justice. Finally, justice is served,” stated Marissa as her eyes welled with tears after checking in at the airline counter.
Death sentence
The Kuwait Court of First Instance sentenced the traffic policeman to death in June 2014 after he was convicted of raping Marissa and trying to kill her by stabbing her several times. However, the policeman’s legal counsel appealed to the Court of Appeals and the death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Kuwaiti human rights lawyer Sheikha Fawzia Salem Al Sabah who visited Marissa at the hospital volunteered to be her legal counsel pro bono, after learning about her case in the media.
“I would like to thank Atty and Sheikha Fawzia Al Sabah who volunteered to take my case and be my lawyer. Thank you to the Philippine Embassy, to Ambassador Mohd Noordin Pendosina Lomondot, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, Vice Consul Charleson Hermosura and the rest of the embassy staff. To the POLO-OWWA, Assistant Labour Attache Cathy Duladul, Welfare Officer Atty Llewelyn Perez, Welfare Officer Jingles and all the staff. To all those who helped me in this fight for justice,” shared Marissa.
Meanwhile, Sheikha Fawzia wished Marissa all the best to start a new life with the civil compensation that she received from her case. “I wish you good life, forget what had happened before. I wish you peace of mind and happiness,” stated Sheikha Fawzia during their last meeting at the law office prior to Marissa’s departure.