According to Ms. H., a resident of Ngoc Thuy Ward, the shocking incident was discovered after family members repeatedly experienced health issues around May 12. Upon reviewing food and beverages in the house, Ms. H found nothing suspicious - until she checked the kitchen camera footage.

Ms. H, who is undergoing outpatient treatment for joint issues at Viet Duc Hospital, said her family had been drinking perilla leaf tea regularly to support their health.

Previously, on March 15, Ms. H hired a woman named O, born in 1967 from Nghe An province, through Home Sky Trading and Services Co., Ltd., located in Kim Giang, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi. O claimed to have eight years of experience working in luxury homes and two years in multi-story houses. She described herself as clean, hardworking, and good at cooking and childcare.

On April 16, she began working at Ms. H’s home for a monthly salary of 9 million VND (approx. 360 USD). However, after just over a month, the family discovered deeply disturbing behavior from the helper.

At around 5:00 AM on May 11, camera footage revealed that while preparing perilla leaf tea, helper O failed to wash the leaves - freshly picked from the Red River bank - and placed them into the pot with dirt still on them. Even more alarming, she used a rag to wipe up spilled water on the countertop and then wrung the dirty liquid directly into the pot of tea.

Footage provided by Ms. H shows helper O's unsanitary actions.

Helper O, as advertised by Home Sky Trading and Services Co., Ltd.

The entire 54-second act was recorded on the kitchen surveillance camera.

Upon discovering the footage, Ms. H reported the incident to Ngoc Thuy Ward Police on May 12. During questioning, the maid admitted to squeezing dirty water into the tea but claimed it was done “in a rush and by accident.”

Police documented the incident and are handling the case according to the severity of the offense.

“I realize my actions were wrong and harmful to others' health. I promise not to repeat such behavior again,” helper O stated.

This incident is a harsh reminder of the risks involved in hiring domestic help. It underscores the importance of choosing reputable job placement agencies and thoroughly vetting candidates to ensure they possess both competence and integrity.

ANTD