Police start investigating maid rape case

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Police have started investigating rape and sexual harassment reports involving Singaporean Mohammad Malcom, aka Max Don, the husband of popular singer Imaniar.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said that officers were examining evidence and statements by victims and witnesses before questioning Max Don.

"We will summon him after we have examined all the evidence. We still need several more witnesses," Tjiptono said.

Several media reported last week that Don had allegedly raped his maid several times since December last year.

Imaniar's niece Any also reported Max Don to the police last week for sexual harassment.

Imaniar's lawyer Muchlis Amin said that his client had an audio tape proving the sexual harassment allegation.

Don, accompanied by his lawyer Ruhut Sitompul, told a press conference on Wednesday that he had never sexually harassed Any and that it was just a misunderstanding.

Don said he had visited Any's family to explain what had happened.

"That's why I am very surprised that she reported me to the police," he said.

Don, however, claimed that he had consensual sex with his maid.

He said he had told Imaniar about his relationship with the maid and his wife had forgiven him.

Muchlis said that since quitting her job as Don's maid, they could not trace the alleged rape victim's whereabouts.

Imaniar refused to comment on the case.

Tjiptono said the police would summon every witness and victim in order to get the case to trial.

"We can't use the tape as evidence in court. We have to question every witness and victim in order to build a strong case," he said.

Don was arrested in 2001 and charged with assaulting a maid.

He was subsequently acquitted by the court.

In the same year, he was arrested for assaulting three employees of a restaurant in North Jakarta. However, the case was not followed up by the police.