Abused wife arrested by police

Abused wife arrested by police

Rizky KD Ntoma, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

man was arrested last Saturday when her husband reported her to police for stealing his money. Ironically, the same police had not responded to the woman's earlier report on her husband for domestic violence.

Lawyer Nikolas Simanjuntak, representing Priescillya "Esi" Malingkas, said on Friday that his client had decided to go to the Jakarta City Police after her earlier report on domestic violence to the West Jakarta Police met with no response.

"It is ironic that my client, who reported her husband for physical abuse, is now being detained for stealing from him," Simanjuntak told reporters.

The dispute started last August when husband Ahu beat Esi with a broomstick and a pipe when she asked him about a VCD player and a desktop computer he had brought home. He also allegedly threatened her with a gun. It is not clear whether Ahu has a license to possess firearms.

Esi reported her husband Ahu, alias Yusuf Ham, for domestic violence late June this year to Jelambar Police and West Jakarta Police.

"My client was being beaten by her husband in front of her mother and her 14-year-old daughter," her lawyer said.

Instead of receiving a positive response from police officers, Esi was arrested several days later due to Ahu's report -- to the same two police stations -- that she had stolen their piano and TV set. Esi had sold them to finance her children's needs, as Ahu had not brought any money home for her and the children for three years.

Esi was held for four days before being released, but was arrested again last Saturday after Ahu filed another report that she had stolen Rp 10 million from him. The money is, in fact, their common property as husband and wife.

Esi is still being held at Pondok Bambu women's penitentiary.

Simanjutak said that his client urged the City Police chief to process her report on domestic violence and forward the report to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Anti Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan) and the National Commission for Children's Protection (Komnas Anak-Anak).

However, Esi's cousin, Maya, doubted that the police would seriously investigate the case, as Ahu is believed to have close ties with high-ranking police officers.