Hey, thanks a million for the utterly detailed explanation.

It is also true, however, that many times, and I do not mean in court, people just blame immigrants or foreigners without even pondering on it. And that is quite wrong, but it all has to do with the mentality.

Let’s not get hysterical about this. The police cannot investigate willy-nilly everybody in any given situation and of course the Filipino will have a regular trial.

Furthermore, any defence lawyer worth his salt would ask the accused (in this case, the Filipino woman) to tell him/her the full circumstances which lead to the attack and if the employer kept the employee under slave conditions, be sure that it will come out in court in some way or another. After all, that is why court proceedings are held. Indeed, it is unfortunate that the employer will have to come from abroad to testify whilst the Filipino’s life is on “pause”. However, the employer will testify and will be submitted to cross-examination so these matters will, in some way or another, come out. Furthermore, the Filipino has the right to testify (and the right to refuse to do so) so it is entirely up to her as well to defend her name.

So, as I said, let’s not get hysterical. Yes, if there are accusations to be levelled against the employer, let them be investigated.

The bottom-line, however, is that yes, the Filipino is are entitled to a “regular trial”, even though what you mean by the words I cannot understand because if you refer to “trial by jury” then the law does not contemplate trial by jury for all the offences in the Criminal Code. However, yes, the Filipino is entitled and shall be submitted to proceedings during which she will have every right to submit her version of the events.