KUALA LUMPUR: Although 10 years have passed, a former Indonesian domestic worker who claims to have been abused and tortured by her former employer has never given up on seeking justice.
Meriance Kabu, 42, who hails from West Java, Indonesia, tearfully admitted that she would not stop or give up until she received justice.
"Even if I were to die and come back to life, I have never been guilty. I am 100 per cent sure I am not guilty, so I will fight until justice is truly served for me.
"Even though I know the journey of this case is still far from over, I will continue to fight. Today is the first step of my struggle," she said when met at the Ampang court complex here today.
Meriance, who was flown in specially from Indonesia to attend the court proceedings today, thanked all those who have fought alongside her.
"Even though my fight has been ongoing for 10 years, I still remember this tragedy clearly to this day.
"I am grateful to Malaysia for still caring about this case even though it has been a long time."
She added that she had never surrendered, felt afraid, or nervous about confronting her former employer.
Previously, it was reported that Meriance suffered serious injuries and permanent disability in her ear after being abused and tortured by her former employer.
According to the charge sheet, her former employer is accused of intentionally causing harm to Meriance by using pliers to extract four of her teeth at a house in Pandan Jaya here between April 11, 2014 and Dec 20, 2014.
The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged her former employer Ong Su Ping Serene due to the absence of prosecution witnesses and reliance solely on Meriance's testimony.
However, Ong and her friend Sang Yoke Leng were told to enter defence on another charge of trafficking Merience and employing her without a permit.
The prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against Ong and Sang under Section 13 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) and Section 55B(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
They may face a maximum punishment of 20 years in jail or a fine, or both on conviction on the Atipsom charge.
On the offences against the Immigration Act, they may face a fine not less than RM10,000 and not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment not more than 12 months or both.