KUALA LUMPUR: A woman was charged in two separate courts this morning with abusing and exploiting her Indonesian maid since last year.
Loke Chee Hui, 43, was charged with one count of causing injuries using an iron and hot water to her maid, named Indrawati, between March 3 last year to April 23 this year, at a house in Taman OUG, Brickfields, here.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code, before Magistrate Atiqah Mohamed @ Mohamad Saim.
The charge carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and also a fine, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadia Eleena Jamaluddin Akbal informed the court that the accused's offence is a non-bailable offence. However, she said it is up to the court's discretion to offer any bail.
Loke's lawyer Vaghese Onny pleaded for bail to be granted to the accused as she is a mother of four and earns around RM3,500 to RM4,000 per month.
The court set bail at RM6,000 and fixed June 6 for mention.
Loke was also charged at the Sessions Court earlier this morning, together with her husband Lum Kah Wai, 44, with trafficking the same maid, who is not a child, for the purpose of exploitation by using force.
The duo was accused of committing the offence at the same location and period of time as her previous charge. Their charge was framed under Section 12 of Act 670 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Trafficking Act/Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) 2007, which carries a minimum of 15 years of jail and a fine.
The husband and wife, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to them before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Ahmad Hijrah Wan Abdullah informed the court that the charge also fell under non-bailable offence.
Loke's lawyer, Vaghese, who appeared for the couple, pleaded for a reasonable bail, stating that his clients were not flight risks and would not interfere with the victim.
The judge set bail at RM10,000 for each of the accused. They were also ordered to surrender their passport to the court and report to the nearest police station every two months.
She fixed June 6 for mention.
Yesterday, Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Amihizam Abdul Shukor said the 39-year-old victim was rescued by the police on April 23, after one of the employer's neighbors suspected that she was being abused.
He said the police found that the maid was seriously injured with her whole body scalded with hot water.
She had burn marks, as well as swelling and bruising to the face and eyes.