WHO official settles maid abuse case out of court

A representative for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Thailand has settled out of court after being accused of keeping his maid in slave-like conditions.

Yonas Tegegn, an Ethiopian WHO official based in Thailand, was accused of not paying his maid, whom he had brought from Ethiopia, and confiscating her passport.

Surapong Kongchantuk, the maid’s lawyer, said on Tuesday in Bangkok that Tegegn and his wife regularly beat the defendant.

He confirmed that the case had been settled out of court on Monday, adding that the financial terms would not be disclosed.

Kongchantuk said the defendant had transferred the money as agreed, both for damages and bodily harm.

A recent media report noted that Tegegn had never responded formally to the accusations, and various calls to WHO office in Thailand were not returned.