SEPANG: It was an emotionally tense two-hour wait for Uma Sangari Raby as she anxiously awaited the arrival of her mother Mala Vello at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Uma, 37, had last seen her 57-year-old mother 12 years ago before she was trafficked in Nepal, where she spent 10 years and was subsequently jailed for overstaying her visa.
When met at the airport at 6.30am today, Uma said she had not slept a wink after finishing work at midnight.
Mala's flight from Kathmandu touched down at KLIA at 6.48am.
About two hours later, Mala emerged from the arrival hall, draped in a pink saree, escorted by a representative from the Foreign Ministry.
It was a heartfelt reunion as Uma embraced her mother, having only been able to speak with her over the phone for the past decade.
Mala beamed with joy as she held her daughter, who had tirelessly fought and sought assistance from numerous parties to bring her home.
Speaking to reporters, Mala expressed her gratitude to those who played a role in her return, including the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal, the non-governmental organisation Project Liber8, Maiti, and Dewan Negara senator Datuk Sivaraj Chandran.
"Thank you to everyone who helped bring me home. I am very happy now," she said briefly.
Uma also conveyed her appreciation to all those involved.
"Thank you to everyone who helped to bring my mom home. We have tried seeking from help all over and both Project Liber8 and Datuk Sivaraj managed to help us. Thank you very much," she said.
Sivaraj, who had also been waiting at the arrival hall, said Mala's case serves as a reminder to be cautious and not blindly trust others when following them to foreign countries.
"This is a reminder for everyone not to be swayed by sweet talk, only to be deceived and left to regret it later.
"Mala endured 10 years of misery and two years in jail. She was fortunate to have met NGOs and myself who helped bring her home.
"There are still those out there who are less fortunate, who have not yet received," he said.
He also thanked the Foreign Ministry, Project Liber8 and Maiti who had helped to bring Mala home.
On May, 20, the New Straits Times reported that Mala, from Port Dickson, was trapped and forced into domestic servitude for 10 years after following her Nepali partner to his home country.
The NST was the first to reveal Mala's harrowing ordeal.
Her passport was withheld, and she was subjected to beatings, starvation and constant threats of gang rape if she attempted to seek help from the police.
When she left her partner and sought assistance, she was charged for overstaying under the Immigration Act and Rules of Nepal and fined the equivalent of RM88,500.
Failing to pay the fine, she was sentenced to seven years' jail on March 7, 2022.
Under Nepali law, Mala was not classified as a human trafficking victim, as Nepal's Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act only applies to Nepali citizens.
On a call with the NST from Central Jail in Sundhara, Kathmandu, she described her 10-year captivity as "hell on earth".
Her story caught the attention of Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who said that the ministry, through its mission in Kathmandu, was monitoring the case.
Malaysia Embassy in Nepal charge d'affairs Firdaus Azman previously said the embassy had issued two diplomatic notes in 2022, requesting the Nepali government's consideration for Mala's release, or to reduce the fine imposed on her.
Following that, the Nepali Foreign Ministry wrote a letter to its Home Ministry recommending the release of Mala and another Malaysian from jail.
On Wednesday, Firdaus told the NST that Mala was released by the courts and will be flying home to Malaysia.