Saudi court refuses to free maid abuser

A Saudi court has adjourned its decision to release of a woman accused of seriously injuring her Indonesian housemaid, a move that keeps her detained at least until the court’s next week session, newspapers reported Wednesday.

The woman’s lawyer, Ahmad Al-Rashid, criticized the way the woman was brought to court, chained up and escorted by a security man and a woman jailer, according to Okaz Arabic language daily.

“Al-Rashid asked the judge to release his client on bail and said he would bring her to court as per the judge’s request. The judge, however, rejected the lawyer’s demand after he saw the medical report showing that the maid was physically assaulted, “ the paper said.

Al-Rashid said his client has denied all the accusations against her and pointed out that she told the judge that the maid had intentionally harmed herself.

The defendant, a 53-year-old widow, told court that she had contacted the recruitment office that provided the maid so she could be replaced, but she did not receive a response, Okaz reported.

“Al-Rashid said his client did not confess that she physically assaulted the maid and noted that the judge asked the prosecution to provide a witness to prove the allegations,” the paper said.

Abdul Rahman Al-Mohammadi, the maid’s lawyer, said he submitted a pledge to the court demanding compensation for the damage inflicted on his client.

Sumiati Salan Mustapa, 23, was admitted to hospital in the western town of Madina last month with serious injuries to the head and body after her employer used a hot iron to torture her. Doctors performed a surgery on her head to repair damage to her scalp before she was discharged from hospital last week. She is expected to have more treatment, including psychological rehabilitation.

The Madina criminal court opened hearing of the case on Tuesday and local human rights groups have demanded maximum punishment of the defendant.

Mustapa’s ordeal has sparked furor on public and official levels in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, prompting calls on Jakarta to stop sending maids to the Gulf Kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter.

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