Mob raids house over abuse of maid

BOGOR (JP): Dozens of angry Pulo Armin housing complex residents here came close to burning the house belonging to one of their neighbors on Thursday for allegedly torturing her maid.

East Bogor Police personnel were quick to prevent the arson attack and arrest the housewife, identified as Mely, 30.

The police chief, Sr. Insp. Budi Setiono, said the residents turned angry after Mely's housemaid, Imas, 14, fled her employer's house for safety. Showing some injuries and bruises to her body, Imas said Mely almost stabbed her that morning.

"She was angry with me after I woke up late and forgot to clean her baby's cradle. When I told her I wanted to quit, she beat me with an umbrella, and later brandished a knife," Imas was quoted by the officer as saying.

Imas, Budi said, jumped over the roof of Mely's house to the yard of the neighbor next door, Lukman, whose servant, Dede, then told the security guards of the housing complex of the incident.

The teenage housemaid said she had worked for Mely for 10 months. (21)