Maid says she's innocent of crime

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 06/03/2008 9:48 AM  |  City

A housemaid on trial for allegedly stealing her employers' belongings told the court Monday she was forced to drink insecticide when she refused to admit to the crime.

Fitriana, 25, is being tried at the South Jakarta District Court on charges of stealing two luxury wristwatches, a mobile phone, a digital camera and jewelry belonging to Dendi Gumilang and his wife Ira Syarif, who live in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.

She said Ira had locked her in a room for two days without food and also told her to drink a glass of insecticide.

"Did you really drink it?" presiding Judge Haswandi asked.

"Yes, I did," she answered.

"Why didn't you die?" the judge asked again, with a smile.

"I don't know," the defendant replied.

She said some "strangers" had threatened her into admitting to the crime, saying she would suffer from black magic if she did not.

Ira, who later testified in the trial, shook her head in response to Fitriana's statements regarding the violence.

On Monday, the court heard testimonies from Ira, Dendi and their driver.

Dendi said he realized he had lost his watches on the night of Feb. 20 and told his wife to check if any of her items were also missing. It turned out some were, he said.

He said their losses might reach Rp 40 million (US$4,300).

Ira said Fitriana admitted to taking the items two days later, but said she did not do it for her own benefit.

"Fitri told me some strangers had urged her to take the items and threatened her with black magic if she refused to do it," Ira said.

Both Dendi and Ira said that because Fitriana could not return the items, they took her to Kebayoran Lama Police station.

Fitriana said the police had forced her to make a confession.

"They said if I signed the letter saying I admitted to all of the charges, I would be freed; if I refused, I would be sentenced to prison for 15 years," she told the court.

Fitriana's lawyer, Restaria F. Hutabarat from Jakarta's legal aid, said her client was a victim of domestic violence, committed by her employers.

The trial will resume next Wednesday to hear more testimonies. (uwi)

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