Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Maid Beaten and Burned With Torch Until She Confessed to Stealing: DA

By Katie Honan | February 26, 2015 3:46pm | Updated on February 26, 2015 5:34pm
 Police sources said a man kidnapped a maid and tortured her until she confessed to swiping money and jewelry from his home. 
Police sources said a man kidnapped a maid and tortured her until she confessed to swiping money and jewelry from his home. 
View Full Caption
NYPD

BAYSIDE — A maid was held against her will at a home she cleans by her employers, then beaten and burned with a torch until she admitted to swiping the goods, police said.

Investigators are now looking for an unidentified man who assisted in the attack.

The 54-year-old victim was working at the Bayside home of Devanand and Ambar Lachman on Friday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. when Devanand and an unknown man entered and held her against her will, according to the district attorney's office. 

SIGN UP FOR DNAINFO'S NEW YORK NEWSLETTERS

Both were armed with knives and a pistol, she told police. 

They demanded the housekeeper return money and a gold chain they believe she took from the home, the criminal complaint said. 

 The Lachman home on 217th Street in Bayside, where police say a housekeeper was held against her will and tortured until she confessed to stealing.
The Lachman home on 217th Street in Bayside, where police say a housekeeper was held against her will and tortured until she confessed to stealing.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Katie Honan

Lachman and the unknown man punched the victim several times in her face and body during the attack, the criminal complaint said.

Then the unknown suspect waved a hand torch in the victim's face, burning her eyebrows, then later turned it to her leg which caused a burn, court documents said.

Police said Ambar Lachman arrived later and drove them all to the victim's Port Washington home to search it for the chain and cash, according to the criminal complaint.

During that time, the maid was kept in the back with a knife pressed against her neck.

Devanand Lachman allegedly told the victim that if the items were not returned the next day, he would kill her, the DA's office said. The trio then drove off.

A police source said the housekeeper fessed up to taking the jewelry and cash, but she hasn't been charged with anything. 

The victim was later taken to a local hospital where she was treated for burns to her face and legs, and for bruising on her body, police said. The extent of her injuries was not known.

The Lachmans were arrested and charged the next day for assault, kidnapping and weapons possession, the DA's office said. 

Devanand, whose lawyer declined to comment, was ordered held without bail. Ambar, whose lawyer could not be reached, was released on $50,000 bail, the DA's office said. They are due back in court March 2. 

Police are searching for the third man, who they say is between 30 and 35 years old and 6 feet tall.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).