MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino migrant groups on Saturday called on Philippine diplomatic and labor officials in Kuwait to help a Filipino cashier who was jailed there after being accused by her employer of stealing three Kuwaiti dinars (P500).

Migrante-International, citing a report from its Kuwait chapter, identified the cashier as Juria Turia, 22, a native of Parang, Maguindanao, who has been working at the Ambassador Supermarket in Kuwait City for the past two years.

Migrante-Kuwait chair Gil Lebria requested the Philippine embassy for assistance for Juria. He asked embassy and labor officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crime being charged against Juria.

Lebria said Juria spent a day in jail on June 13 after her Bangladeshi employer accused her of stealing three dinars from the cash register.

?She's the only hope of her family, especially her seven siblings in Parang. She's worried about her safety. She said she could not concentrate and could not sleep because of her ordeal,? Lebria said.

Though she denied stealing any money, Juria was detained by her supervisor in the latter?s office. The supervisor tried to make her sign papers saying she owed the company 500 dinars (about P83,000) because of the theft she allegedly committed. When she refused, she was brought to the police and thrown in jail.

Against her will, Juria signed the document, agreeing for 50 dinars (about 8,000) to be deducted from her salary in the next 10 months.

"She told us she could not do anything, that she was just a Muslim woman and she's all alone in Kuwait,? Lebria said.

While she was in jail, Juria said her employer went to her lodgings and ransacked her belongings. She said some of her jewelry was stolen and the 210 dinars (about P35,000) she got from a credit union was confiscated.

?The victim said she wanted to get justice and help from you because she feels her life is in danger [because of her intention to obtain redress],? Lebria said in his letter to embassy officials.

Lebria, who said he was familiar with the supermarket, said a Filipino cashier working there had the same experience with the same employer last year. Lebria said he found the cruelty to Filipino employees quite strange because migrant Filipinos were major patrons of the store.

Lebria said Juria has already approached a local workers' welfare group which has promised to help her pursue her case against the employer.