Saudi couple torture maid

A SAUDI couple tortured their Sri Lankan maid by hammering 24 nails into her hands, legs and forehead after she complained of a too heavy workload, officials said.

Nearly two million Sri Lankans sought employment overseas last year and around 1.4 million, mostly maids, were employed in the Middle East. Many have complained of physical abuse or harassment.

LT Ariyawathi, a 49-year old mother of three, returned last Friday after five months in Saudi Arabia.