Ismiyati sues Saudi princess for assault
Ismiyati sues Saudi princess for assault
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Memet Ismiyati, an Indonesian maid assaulted by her employer
while working in the U.S., has filed suit against the woman, a
Saudi princess, for an attack that she says caused her physical
and mental trauma.
An Indonesian diplomat in Houston told The Jakarta Post in a
telephone interview on Thursday that Ismiyati, 36, is now under
the protection of Florida State officials.
Ismiyati is seeking an undisclosed amount of money in damages
in the civil suit filed Wednesday, Associated Press reported.
Princess Buniah al-Saud, al-Saud, a niece of King Fahd of
Saudi Arabia, was charged Monday with felony battery for
allegedly hitting Ismiyati's head against a wall and pushing her
down a staircase.
Ismiyati is currently walking with a cane.
Al-Saud was also charged Tuesday with grand theft and dealing
in stolen property for trying to sell electronics equipment and
furniture belonging to a former driver. She is free in lieu of
US$5,000 bail.
Her attorney, Bud Bennington, did not return a phone call
seeking comment.
In the lawsuit, Ismiyati accused al-Saud of hitting her
several times, choking her once and verbally abusing her.
Al-Saud, 41, could receive up to 15 years in prison if
convicted of felony battery. She faces an additional 10 years in
prison for the theft along with stolen property charges.
Lingga Setiawan, a diplomat at the Indonesian Consulate in
Houston, said that protection was given to Ismiyati because her
lawsuit against the princess was in process.
"Such a protection is given to prevent interference from the
other party about her case," Lingga added.
He said at the phone from Houston that, because of the
Florida's state protection, he has not been able to speak
directly with Ismiyati. He added the information he had received
about Ismiyati came from a local police officer.
Lingga, who is handling Ismiyati's case, said the police
officer told him that Ismiyati was recovering after she received
medical treatment.
According to Lingga, Ismiyati was taken to Florida by Princess
Al-Saud, where she is studying at a local university. He said
Ismiyati's U.S. visa was obtained by Saudi woman.
Meanwhile, the consular official at the Indonesian consulate
in Houston, Bambang Irawan Kromodimulyo, said that Indonesian
embassy in Washington has asked consular officials in Houston to
follow Ismiyati's case.
"We are ready to help Ismiyati -- we have tasked Pak Lingga to
collect information about her," Bambang told the Post.