Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
BY QISHIN TARIQ
KUALA LUMPUR: A husband and wife face a string of charges for abusing an Indonesian woman who was forced to work as their maid.
Shahrul Azyrin Ahmad, 30, and his wife Zulaikha Nordin, 26, were charged in the Selayang sessions court on Thursday with grievously injuring the 22-year-old woman, using metal rods and a rotan.
The married couple were also accused of human trafficking.
Shahrul and Zulaikha were hit with two more charges, at the magistrate’s court, for employing the Indonesian woman without a legal work permit and illegally withholding her passport.
The offences are alleged to have occurred at their home at Simfoni Heights condominium on Jalan Medan in Selayang.
The duo claimed trial to all the charges.
Deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Zulia Balqish acted for the prosecution, while lawyers Mohamad Zahid Ahmad and M. Sivam represented Shahrul and Zulaikha.
Mohamad Zahid pleaded for low bail, saying Shahrul who worked as an immigration officer was the sole earner, while housewife Zulaikha had to care for their two children, aged three years and six months old.
Sessions court judge Tasnim Abu Bakar allowed bail at RM7,000 with one surety for each charge and ordered Shahrul and Zulaikha’s passports to be surrendered. They were also ordered to report in to a police station twice a month.
Magistrate Namirah Hanum Mohamed Albaki, meanwhile, set bail at RM6,000 with one surety for each charge.
This means the couple would need to raise a total of RM52,000 bail.
The courts fixed May 18 for next mention.
It was earlier reported that an Indonesian maid was found in the jungle by Orang Asli at Ulu Yam in Hulu Selangor on April 19.
The Orang Asli rescued the injured woman and took her to a clinic, She was later transferred to the Selayang Hospital.
The Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur stated that the woman was under the embassy’s care and arrangements were being made to have her sent home to Indonesia.
Source: THE STAR ONLINE
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com