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female migrant worker from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has returned home with severe wounds that have rendered her disabled after eight months working as a housemaid in Malaysia.

The worker, Meriance Kabu, was physically abused by her employer, causing her to lose four teeth. Her tongue is also severed and her ears have been ripped and now bleed at regular intervals.

“Her nose was often beaten until swollen and her head and lips were beaten, alongside other forms of abuse,” said the Rev. Emmy Sahertian, the head of the Women’s Network of East Indonesia (JPIT), an NGO concerned with migrant protection.

Emmy and NTT Migrant Workers Union leader Maria Hingi accompanied Mariance and her husband Kafinus Tefa to report the case to the NTT Police. Her case was rejected by the authorities when she was in Malaysia.

Meriance was rescued by a neighbor after she asked for help by writing on a piece of paper. The neighbor found the paper and reported the case to the local police so she could be rescued and sent home. No charges were pressed against her employer since she allegedly violated immigration laws by not possessing a work permit.

Thousands of workers have been sent to Malaysia from Kupang without proper permits, causing many to fall victim to trafficking and severe abuse at the hands of their employers.

Emmy said Meriance was placed in Malaysia by a recruitment agency called PT Malindo Jaya.

She was recruited by an agent only known as Lisa and sent to Malaysia together with her sister-in-law. Meriance was taken to Kupang and put up at a dormitory belonging to Malindo Jaya in Maulafa district, Kupang.

“No training was provided to her during the temporary stay at the shelter before she was sent to Surabaya, East Java, and then later to Batam, Riau Islands. From Batam, she traveled on a boat to Malaysia. Upon arrival, Meriance was taken to the employment agency,” she said.

Migrant union leader Maria said the victim at one point underwent treatment at a hospital and was interviewed by the Malaysian Police. After she was cured and set to return to Indonesia, she was met by five local police officers who promised to investigate the case.

However, up until now, her family has not received any legal certainty. The Indonesian Embassy then told the family that Meriance’s employer would not be charged.

“The investigation by the Malaysian Police had not provided legal certainty for the family. On behalf of the family, I want the Indonesian Embassy to figure out why Meriance’s employer has been labeled innocent. Evidence of torture is clear,” said Maria.

NTT Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Jules Abas said the police had received the report and had examined the victim.

“We have questioned the victim and several witnesses, including her husband. We will examine the agency that recruited the victim,” said Jules.

Based on a preliminary examination, he said, the victim went to Malaysia on a travel visa but not a working permit. He said the police would carefully study how the victim ended up working in Malaysia and how she was eventually abused.

“We will also examine witnesses in Malaysia,” he added.

The authorities have not yet questioned Malindo Jaya about the case.