Court of Appeal upholds Indonesian maid's acquittal of murdering employer

The Court of Appeal today upheld the acquittal of Indonesian maid on a charge of murdering her employer in Kelantan, five years ago.

A three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Aziah Ali made the order after the prosecution withdrew its appeal on the acquittal of Wilfrida Soik, 24, on the charge of murdering Yeap Seok Pen in a house, in Kampung Lubok Tapah, Pasir Mas, between 11am and 12.30pm on Dec 7, 2010.

The court also affirmed the Kota Baharu High Court's order to send Wilfrida to Hospital Permai, Johor for her mental assessment and to be detained there at the pleasure of the Sultan of Kelantan.

Wilfrida's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that his client currently was detained at Hospital Permai.

The court, therefore, struck out the appeal. Wilfrida looked calm when the court made the order.

The other two judges were Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi and Vernon Ong Lam Kiat.

Deputy public prosecutor Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar appeared for the prosecution.

On April 7, last year, the High Court acquitted Wilfrida on the murder charge after finding her of unsound mind during the incident.

Twenty-six prosecution witnesses and seven defence witnesses testified during the trial.

Outside the court, Muhammad Shafee told reporters that the defence would file a petition to the Kelantan Sultan to release his client and send her back to Indonesia.

"Based on her mental report, there is good hope that Wilfrida will be released," he said.

The candidate for the 2014 Indonesian presidential election, Prabowo Subianto from Partai Gerakan Indonesia Raya, who was also present, expressed his gratitude to Muhammad Shafee.