Woman arrested for beating maids

Woman arrested for beating maids

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police have arrested a woman for
allegedly beating three housemaids who were accused of stealing
435 grams of gold jewelry, an officer said yesterday.

Central Jakarta police precinct chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna
said the suspect, Hani, had been detained for questioning.

Iman said Hani was arrested Thursday after she sent the three
housemaids -- Ranti, Laras and Rita -- to the police precinct to
report the theft.

Police officers became suspicious when they noticed the three
maids, who were employed by Gina, a resident of Kramat Lontar in
Central Jakarta, had contusions on their faces, he said.

Hani admitted that she took the three maids to a house in
Bekasi for questioning after Gina told her on Jan. 28 that the
three had allegedly stolen her gold jewelry.

"The three maids were locked in a room for two days. When they
didn't admit to the theft, Hani beat them," Iman said.

After failing to get a confession from the maids, both Hani
and Gina later decided to hand them over to the police, he said.

After interviewing Hani, police arrested her for assaulting
the maids and keeping them against their will, he added.

Hani could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison if
found guilty of assaulting the three maids, Iman said. (emf)