Test for maid accused of killing employer

KOTA BARU: The High Court has ordered an Indonesian maid, accused of murdering her employer in 2010, to be sent to the Universiti Sains Malaysia bone data unit in Kubang Kerian to confirm her age at the time of the alleged incident.

Justice Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim also ordered teenager Wilfrida Soik, allegedly a victim of human trafficking, to undergo psychiatric observation by an authority to be appointed by the defence.

Wilfrida, 23, is accused of murdering Yeap Sook Pen at Kampung Lubuk Tapah, Pasir Mas, at between 11am and 12.30pm on Dec 7, 2010.

She was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code that carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

The full gallery in the courtroom included Indonesian presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto, who claimed Wilfrida was abducted by human traffickers and brought to Malaysia to work as a maid when she was still underage.

Prabowo, from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) is vying to be a candidate for the presidency next year.

Others in the courtroom included the girl’s parents, Rikardus Mau and Maria Kolo, Indonesian lawmakers, Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno and the Indonesian press corps.

Wilfrida, from Kampung Koloulun, Belu, Nusa Tenggara Timur, has attracted international attention following the move by Prabowo to take up the case as a “mission to save” the young maid.

The court order followed an application by newly-appointed defence counsel Tan Sri Muham­mad Shafee, who told the court it was important to determine the age of the accused at the time she was alleged to have committed the crime.

He contended he has reasons to believe that Wilfrida was an underage person when she committed the crime.

“It has come to my knowledge that the accused was also found to have suffered from major depressive disorder after she was sent for psychiatric observation and, therefore, it is important to to find out her real age,” he said.

Justice Ahmad Zaidi also allowed an application for the defence to secure all the court evidence that included reports, notes or audio visual evidence tendered to court with a possibility of recalling witnesses to testify.

Deputy public prosecutor Julie Ibrahim agreed to all the applications forwarded by the defence but, she added, it would be presumptuous for the defence to recall witnesses to testify, especially when the case had reached prima facie stages.

Justice Ahmad Zaidi assured the gallery the court was blind to race, religion or creed. He adjourned the case to Nov 17.