Caucus requests leniency for Indonesian maid on trial in Malaysia

The Women’s Caucus of East Nusa Tenggara urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday to ask the Malaysian government not to impose the death penalty on an Indonesian maid currently standing trial in Malaysia, charged with murdering her employer.

The defendant, Wafrida Soik of Faturika Village in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, was only 17 years old, the caucus said, as reported by tempointeraktif.com on Tuesday.

Wafrida was a juvenile because she had not reached the age of 18, said East Nusa Tenggara Women’s Empowerment Agency chief Yovita Mitak said.

The defendant, who is now being detained at Pengkalan Cepa Prison in Kota Bharu Pasir Mas, Kelantan, is suffering severe depression and is in need of a medical examination, Yovita added.

Frida was recruited illegally and was a victim of human trafficking, Yovita said, urging the Indonesian government to provide legal protection for the defendant and to take stricter measures against anyone involved in human trafficking.