Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | World | Sun, October 21 2012, 9:04 PM
Tirelessly seeking justice, abused Indonesian maid Nirmala Bonat has filed a lawsuit with a Malaysian court in an attempt to seek compensation from her former employer who was just sent to jail for assaulting her in 2004.
Indonesian Foreign Minister spokesman Michael Tene confirmed on Sunday that the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has been providing legal assistance to Nirmala in the lawsuit.
“The legal team helping Nirmala in the lawsuit is the same legal team we hired to provide legal advocacy during the criminal trial processes against her former employer,” Michael told The Jakarta Post.
Nirmala is asking for 39,161 Malaysian Ringgit (US$ 12,837.56), comprising RM28,545 for loss of income and RM10,616 for other expenditures, according to The Star, the Post’s fellow Asia News Network (ANN) member.
The 28-year-old East Nusa Tenggaranese mother of one son is claiming damages over loss of comfort, medical expenses, humiliation, physical and mental anguish, permanent scars and transport expenditures, besides costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
On Oct. 1, Nirmala’s former employer, 44-year-old housewife Yim Pek Ha, was finally convicted in a legally binding verdict and sentenced to 12 years in prison after prolonged trial processes due to appeals by the defendant.
Malaysia’s Court of Appeal upheld a High Court’s decision to impose the 12-year jail term on Yim, who was found guilty of three counts of inflicting injuries on Nirmala.
Yim, who had been free until eight years after he assaulted Nirmala and triggered concerns from many Indonesians, finally began serving her jail term at the Kajang Women’s Prison in Selangor.
Nirmala’s case attracted massive media and public reaction when it emerged in 2004. She claimed that she had been severely assaulted by her employers, for instance, being harmed with a hot iron, hot water, a metal cup and a plastic hanger.
It was a big blow for the Malaysian government to provide stronger protection for migrant workers. Since then, Indonesia and Malaysia have been engaged in measures to improve the situation.
Malaysia is home to more than 2 million Indonesian workers, many of whom are illegal.
Mistreatment of Indonesian workers, as well as tension regarding conflicting territorial claims has occasionally marred ties between Indonesia and Malaysia.
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