A woman has been charged with physically abusing and exploiting her Indonesian maid since last year at two separate courts today.
43-year-old Loke Chee Hui was charged with one count of inflicting injuries on her maid Indrawati with hot water and an iron between March 3, 2022, to April 23, 2023 at a house in Taman OUG, Brickfields, reported NST.
The charge was framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code, where it carries a a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine upon conviction.
Loke pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Atiqah Mohamed @ Mohamad Saim when the charge was read out to her.
Her lawyer Vaghese Onny requested for a lower bail amount, citing the fact that she was a mother of four kids and only earns approximately around RM3,500 to RM4,000 per month.
Bail was then set at RM6,000, with June 6 being fixed for case mention.
Charged with exploitation
Meanwhile, Loke was later charged at the Sessions Court on the same day along with her husband Lum Kah Wai for trafficking the maid for the purpose of further exploitation.
The duo were accused of committing the crime at the same place and location as the previous charge and face up to 15 years in prison and a fine if convicted under Section 12 of Act 670 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Trafficking Act/Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) 2007.
Both Lum and Loke pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
When the court was informed by Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Ahmad Hijrah Wan Abdullah that it was a non-bailable offense, Vaghese once again pleaded for leniency, saying that the couple weren’t flight risks and won’t disturb the victim further.
Bail was then set at RM10,000 each for Loke and Lum and they were also ordered to surrender their passports and report to the nearest police station evert two months.
Yesterday, Brickfields district police chief Assistant Commissioner Amihizam Abdul Shukor told reporters that the 32-year-old maid was rescued after a neighbour called the police over suspected abuse.
He added that they also found serious injuries caused by hot water, burn marks, as well as a swollen face and eyes.
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