Freed migrant worker going home

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 04/19/2006 10:17 AM

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

An Indonesian woman acquitted last week by a Malaysian court of killing her employer is scheduled to return to her hometown of Langkat, North Sumatra, on Friday.

Nurlela, 20, left for Malaysia on March 27, 2004, along with several other women to work in factories in the neighboring country.

While waiting for the promised factory jobs, Nurlela and a friend were temporarily accommodated at Sutramas Apartment in Puchong Jaya, Selangor.

The Malaysian man who was arranging the jobs for the women, Ng Wann Tsair, alias Ah Cho, reportedly forced Nurlela's friend to have sex with him. When Nurlela confronted the man with a knife, the two became involved in a struggle and Ng Wann was fatally stabbed in the chest.

Nurlela was acquitted on all charges of killing Ng Wann after prosecutors failed to produce any evidence or witnesses to testify against her.

Her planned return to Indonesia was announced Tuesday by the Child Protection and Assessment Center in Medan.

The center's executive director, Ahmad Sofian, said Nurlela was initially scheduled to return home Tuesday, but she had to postpone her flight because the Malaysian immigration office had to finish processing the necessary papers.

Ahmad said special papers were needed by anyone arrested and charged with a crime in Malaysia who then intended to leave the country.

""We bought a ticket for Nurlela's return today (Tuesday). But because her papers will only be completed Thursday, her return is expected Friday,"" he said.

Ahmad said Nurlela's family had been informed that she was coming home.

Nurlela's sister, Laila Maya, 16, said the family was eagerly awaiting her return.

""I can's wait until she is home. We all want to see her,"" Laila said.

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