Housewife charged with killing her maid

JAKARTA (JP): A housewife with a history of mental illness was indicted at the West Jakarta District Court yesterday for the manslaughter of her maid.

Maria Ursula Tangguh, 38, a resident of the Kedoya housing complex in West Jakarta, was charged with violating Article 338 of the Criminal Code, on murder, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.

The 40-year-old victim, Srini, had worked for her for 11 months before the fatal incident occurred on Dec. 16, 1996 when Maria beat Srini to death because she was disappointed with the housemaid's work.

State prosecutor Lonardi Madali said that Maria had often beat Srini before the incident.

"The police report shows that during October and December last year, Srini was beaten several times on the face with a broomstick," the prosecutor said.

"The defendant also poured harmful liquids onto Srini's face," Lonardi said.

The victim died from the severe internal bleeding in her skull and internal bruising she suffered in her ribs, he said.

According to the police, two witnesses who also worked for Maria and her family, tried to help Srini regain consciousness when the maid fell to the floor after Maria allegedly kicked her in the head, then grabbed hold of it again and smashed it into a refrigerator door.

After yesterday's session the prosecutor told reporters that it was the second time Maria had committed such an offense.

"She was once tried in 1992 for killing another servant but freed thanks to a doctor's recommendation letter saying that Maria was mentally ill and at the time under observation at Grogol hospital for the mentally ill," Lonardi said.

During the session, Maria kept her face down and covered it with tissues, from a box she was holding, to avoid reporters' cameras and questions.

The trial was adjourned until next week. (12)