Maid kidnaps baby in her care

JAKARTA (JP): A 36 year-old domestic helper, desperate to have her own baby after nine years of marriage, ran away with a baby who had been left in her care by her employers.

On Monday, Bariyah, alias Yuningsih, appeared in a West Jakarta District Court charged with kidnapping under Article 328 of the Criminal Code, an offense punishable with 12 months imprisonment.

Bariyah told the court she had longed to have a baby, but she was still childless after nine years of marriage.

"I just wanted to show my husband in Pandeglang this cute baby boy," she said of 15-month Jeffri Muliawan, whom she abducted in November.

State prosecutor Siti Salamah Ekasari, in spite of her charges, lent a sympathetic ear to the defendant.

Siti Salamah said she could relate to Bariyah's feeling as a woman. "I will ask for the most lenient sentence possible," she said.

According to the indictment, Bariyah who came from her village in Pandeglang, West Java, found a job as a maid at the family of Harso Muliawan's house in West Jakarta, on Nov. 24.

It only took her two days to make up her mind to kidnap baby Jeffri. On the morning of Nov. 26, she left with the baby to the Grogol-Kalideres bus station where they took the bus to Pandeglang.

However, her joy was short-lived.

That same day, a relative of Harso tracked her down in Pandeglang, and claimed the baby from her.

The family then filed a complaint to the West Jakarta Police.

Presiding judge Damsuri Nungtjik adjourned the hearing until next week. (asa/09)