Housekeeper acquitted of charges

TANGERANG: 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 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 worth Rp 300 million in total.

“The defendant must be freed,” Widiyatmoko said.

Last month, prosecutors Riyadi and Agus Tri asked the court to sentence the 54-year-old housekeeper to six months in jail for stealing 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.

Rasminah’s case attracted media attention after 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. — JP