A court in Myanmar sentenced four members of a family to as much as 16 years in prison with hard labor on Friday after finding them guilty of enslaving and abusing their two teenage maids, in a case that has prompted widespread public outrage over the girls' treatment.
Defense Lawyer Hnin Su Aung of a family accused of abuse of their maids after the trial Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar. A court in Myanmar has sentenced four members of a family to up to 16 years in prison with hard labor after finding them guilty of enslaving and abusing their two teenage maids, in a case that has prompted widespread public outrage over the girls’ treatment. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
The two girls were 11 and 12 when they were sent to the city from their poor village in Myanmar's delta to work as maids for a family that owned a tailor shop. Five years later, a local journalist heard allegations of child abuse at the shop and investigated, pretending he wanted a suit. He wrote an article about the girls' broken fingers and scars from cuts, burns and beatings.
Police then investigated and arrested six family members who were accused of locking up and torturing the girls for five years, stabbing them with scissors and knives, and burning them with an iron. They were charged with assault and violations of anti-trafficking and child protection laws.
After a trial lasting more than a year, a district court in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, on Friday sentenced the mother, Tin Thuzar, to 16 years and one month and two adult children to 13 years and one month, defense lawyer Hnin Su Aung said. The husband of one of the children also received a sentence of 13 years and one month.
The two others were freed after the judge ruled that they had not been involved, Hnin Su Aung said.
Defense Lawyer Hnin Su Aung of a family accused of abuse of their maids talks to journalists as she leaves a district court after the trial Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar. A court in Myanmar has sentenced four members of a family to up to 16 years in prison with hard labor after finding them guilty of enslaving and abusing their two teenage maids, in a case that has prompted widespread public outrage over the girls’ treatment. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
Across Myanmar, tens of thousands of rural girls leave their families each year to become domestic workers in cities to provide money for their families, but often end up isolated and powerless. Child protection groups say maids are often underage and vulnerable to various forms of abuse, and that the country has no laws that specifically protect working children and ensure their health and safety on the job.
"There are often unreported abuse cases because of the victims' lack of knowledge of how to stand up to their employers and no labor laws that protect housemaids," said Tin Win, a child rights activist at the non-profit Yadana Maha children's educational group.
The widespread publicity given the case has put added pressure on the government of Aung San Suu Kyi to do more to counter human rights abuses. Thousands of young girls working as maids in the cities are from impoverished Kawmhu township, which is Suu Kyi's constituency.
Thandar, mother of Yarzar Tun who was sentenced for allegedly abusing their house maids, cries outside a district court Friday, Dec.15, 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar. Tun was sentenced to 13 years and 1 month jail term for allegedly abused and enslaved two teenage girls who worked for them as maids for five years. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
Yangon western district court is seen on Friday, Dec.15, 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar. The court in Myanmar has sentenced four members of a family to up to 16 years in prison with hard labor after finding them guilty of enslaving and abusing their two teenage maids, in a case that has prompted widespread public outrage over the girls’ treatment. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Ranger Suárez allowed two hits in seven innings and Kody Clemens hit a three-run homer as the Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to seven games with a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.
Suárez (4-0) ran his scoreless streak to 25 innings. He's won his last four starts, including a 112-pitch shutout against Colorado last Tuesday. This time, he yielded two singles, struck out five and walked one.
Gregory Soto and Jeff Hoffman completed the two-hitter for Philadelphia's fourth shutout this season, tying Cleveland for most in the majors.
Cincinnati was blanked for the first time.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said after the complete game less than a week ago, he planned to limit Suárez to 80 pitches. The left-hander came out after 88.
“That was a pullback game for Ranger," Thomson said. “He could have kept going, I’m sure. It’s a long year. We want to make sure we’re taking care of him.”
Suárez attributed his string of strong innings to finding the formula for mixing his pitches successfully.
“As always I tried to mix up my pitches, especially my changeup. I don’t throw hard, so those are the things I have to do,” the 28-year-old Venezuelan said through an interpreter. “I have to mix up my pitches so I can get hitters off balance and get the outs.”
Minus slugger Bryce Harper, the Phillies put up runs on sacrifice flies in the second and third, then scored another in the fourth on a groundout.
They added one in the fifth when Kyle Schwarber led off with a walk and came around on J.T. Realmuto's double down the left-field line.
Clemens, promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday to play first base when Harper went on paternity leave, homered to right off Casey Legumina in the ninth.
Hunter Greene (0-2) permitted four runs on seven hits and struck out seven in seven innings for the Reds.
“Overall, I thought I pitched well," said Greene, whose fastball velocity was consistently hitting the high 90s. "Did a better job of attacking the zone. I have to do a better job of getting the first guy out. I think that is what threw off those three or four innings.”
Bryson Stott had two RBIs for Philadelphia, which has scored at least seven runs in five straight games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: RHP Frankie Montas (bruised forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list after getting hit by a line drive in the first inning Sunday. Legumina was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
UP NEXT
Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (1-2, 2.53 ERA) starts Tuesday night against Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (1-2, 2.70).
This story has been corrected to show Suárez extended his scoreless streak to 25 innings instead of 22.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Philadelphia Phillies' Kody Clemens (2) celebrates with teammate Johan Rojas, right, after hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. Phillies' Bryson Stott (5) and Nick Castellanos (8) also scored on the play. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Philadelphia Phillies' Kody Clemens, right, celebrates with third base coach Dusty Wathan, left, as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds,Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. The Phillies won 7-0. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene follows through in the forth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, right, safely slides into home to score on a sacrifice fly by teammate Bryson Scott as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, left, looks to tag in the second inning of a baseball game on Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
