Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang, Banget | Wed, 12/22/2010 7:35 PM
The Tangerang District Court acquitted Rasminah of all charges against her, which included stealing valuables from her employer.
The panel of judges, presided over by Bambang Widiyatmoko, concluded on Wednesday that the facts and testimony provided by witnesses in court did not prove that the defendant had stolen her employer’s antique plates and other valuables.
“The defendant must be freed,” Widiyatmoko said.
Spectators spontaneously welcomed the court’s decision with great applause. Rasminah bowed and kissed the floor of the courtroom as a sign of gratitude to God.
Last month, prosecutors Riyadi and Agus Tri asked the court to sentence the 54-year-old housekeeper to six months in jail for stealing.
Prosecutors said Rasminah had stolen items from her employer’s house at the Graha Permai housing complex in Ciputat, South Tangerang, beginning in February 2007.
They claimed Rasminah’s employer, Siti Aisah, had suffered Rp 300 million (US$33,000) in losses.
Prosecutor Riyadi brought to court evidence from a house Rasminah rented not far from her employer’s house. The evidence was antique plates, cups, bowls, glasses, 500 grams of gold jewelry, dresses, a 14-inch TV, a table, a refrigerator, a handkerchief, US$20,000 and Rp 15 million in cash, all which he claimed belonged to Siti Aisah.
Rasminah’s case had drawn media attention since Siti Aisah reported it to the Ciputat Police in June. Rasminah was detained for two months in police custody and at Tangerang Women’s Penitentiary for 75 days.
Rasminah, accompanied by her 20-year-old daughter Astuti, said after the trial that the court’s verdict indicated that justice had been served.
“I am happy as well as sad. I am happy because I was declared innocent, but I am sad as I have no job to support myself,” she said, adding that she planned to begin running a stall.
Lawyer Maju Posko Simbolon from the Jakarta-based Mawar Sharon Legal Aid Foundation warned employers that they must not arbitrarily accuse their maids of stealing and report them to the police.
“The court’s decision is the real voice of justice and we do appreciate it,” he said, adding that Mawar Sharon had also reported Siti Aisah to the Jakarta Police for giving false information.
