Maid appeals for Mahathir's help

Maid appeals for Mahathir's help

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Filipina maid, who alleges she was raped by a former Croatian ambassador, yesterday appealed to Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad to reopen the case closed by authorities after the envoy was recalled.

Lawyer Karpal Singh, acting for 27-year-old Maria Ocampo, called on the attorney-general, who is also public prosecutor, to review his decision not to prosecute Kresimir Znidaric for alleged rape.

On Oct. 9 last year, Ocampo filed a civil suit in the Malaysian high court alleging she had been raped four times and sexually molested by Znidaric, who was her employer, between April 11 and Aug. 23.

Znidaric was recalled to Croatia on Oct. 11 last year. The Malaysian attorney-general in a letter dated Dec. 31 ruled the case closed and that no further action was to be taken due to insufficient evidence to proceed against Znidaric.