Published: Wednesday February 20, 2013 MYT 5:49:00 PM

Employers reminded to use proper channels to hire Indonesian maids

KUALA LUMPUR: Employers in this country were reminded to use the proper channels to hire housemaids to prevent cases of child abuse by maids from recurring.

Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, Herman Prayitno who gave the reminder, also confirmed that Indonesian maid Yuliana who was on Tuesday sentenced to 20 years' jail by the Kuantan Sessions Court for abusing her employers' four-month-old baby boy, had been hired by her employers, illegally.

"This is the outcome if you hire maids not through the proper channels. It should be a lesson for employers to be more careful in future," he said on Wednesday.

He was speaking to reporters at the presentation of Yayasan Ikatan Rakyat Malaysia-Indonesia (YIRMI) aid for the flood victims in Manado at the Indonesian embassy, here.

Herman said Indonesians offered to work as housemaids in this country would first undergo training and psychological testing before being sent to Malaysia.

He said this was to ensure that employers would only get trained maids who were also healthy and emotionally stable to enable them to carry out their tasks well.

Meanwhile, he said the embassy respected the court sentence on 20 years' jail meted on Yuliana.

On Tuesday, Yuliana, 23, from Sukarame, Acheh, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusing the baby boy last Friday.

On the first count, the mother of two was charged with throwing and tossing Mohamed Hareez Mohamed Zamri nine times which could cause death to the victim.

The offence was committed at 7.45am on Feb 15 at the house of the victim's parents at No 7, Lorong Bukit Setongkol 38, Bukit Setongkol, Kuantan.

The offence under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years.

Yuliana was also charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of not more than RM20,000, or both, with abusing the child at the same place and time.

She was sentenced to 15 years' jail on the first count and five years on the second count, with the sentences to be served concurrently. - Bernama

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Published: Wednesday February 20, 2013 MYT 5:49:00 PM

Employers reminded to use proper channels to hire Indonesian maids