Maid kidnaps baby in her care

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)