RI worker escapes death penalty

JAKARTA: Another Indonesian domestic worker was convicted of murder in Malaysia, but did not receive a death sentence on Monday after the Johor Baru High Court imprisoned her for 12 years for killing the son of her employers in 1999.

Judges found that Mariana Mariaji, now 25, who hails from Gondang village in Tulungagung, East Java, committed the murder after her employers, the couple of Lee Boon Cheng and Lee Kang Yeng, abused her. She testified that said she had been raped by Lee Kang Yeng's brother.

The judges also took into consideration Mariana's remorse in delivering the verdict.

There are currently 26 Indonesian migrant workers standing trial in Malaysia for crimes that carry a maximum sentence of death, the Migrant Care non-governmental organization said. -- JP

;JP; ANPAa..r.. Scene-lawmaker-strike PDI-P legislator rushed to hospital JP/4/SCENE

PDI-P legislator rushed to hospital

JAKARTA: Secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Jacobus Kamarlo Mayongpadang was admitted to Cikini Hospital in Central Jakarta due to severe dehydration while on a hunger strike to protest the fuel price hikes.

Fellow PDI-P lawmaker Sudigdo Adi said Jacobus had been undergoing treatment at the same hospital for chronic gastric problems before he started the hunger strike a day earlier.

The strike came after the House of Representatives implied its acceptance of the fuel price increases in its plenary meeting on Monday, which saw PDI-P and the National Awakening Party (PKB) factions walk out.

It remains uncertain whether Jacobus will regain his health in time for the party's congress on Bali, which will open on Monday. -- Antara