Indonesian maid escapes the gallows on charge of killing her employer

An Indonesian maid, charged with murdering her employer four years ago, escaped the death penalty on Monday when the High Court here found her not guilty of the crime. Wilfrida Siok, 23, who was in jeans and a pink checked shirt blouse, shed tears following the court's decision and was hugged by representatives of the Indonesian embassy and non-governmental organisations who came to hear the case. Also in court was Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, the presidential candidate from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party and several Indonesian journalists. They were all there to look into the fate of Wilfrida who they earlier believed would get the death sentence. However, judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim in his judgment, which he read for almost an hour, said based on the medical expert's testimony, he found the accused to be mentally unstable during the incident on December 7, 2010. "I order the accused, hence be sent to a mental institution, namely Hospital Permai Johor Baharu, until I have issued the full (report) judgment," he said at the end of the defence's case. On March 30, last year, Wilfrida was ordered to make her defence against the murder charge after the prosecution proved a prima facie against her. Wilfrida was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death sentence, for killing Yeap Seok Pen, 60, with a sharp weapon at a house in Kampung Chabang Empat Tok Uban, Pasir Mas between 11am and 12.30pm on December 7, 2010. When the incident happened, the accused had only been working for two weeks at the victim's house. During the trial, the prosecution produced 26 witnesses to testify and the defence, six. Ahmad Zaidi said the testimony of Hospital Permai Johor Baharu forensic psychiatric consultant, Dr Bada'iah Yahya was deemed more comprehensive and acceptable to the court. Dr Bada'iah had testified that the accused had a very low IQ (intelligence quotient) compared to other people her age, while the fits suffered by her could influence her uncontrollable action. Prabowo, when met after today's proceeding, said he was happy and grateful for the court's decision that was in favour of Wilfrida. "I am overwhelmed by the decision and this is justice for her. "But what I wish to say is about the issue of human trafficking in Indonesia. Something must be done to stem it," he said. Deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim said the prosecution would wait for the full judgement before deciding whether to appeal against the court's decision. Throughout the trial, Wilfrida was represented by lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Syed Ismat Syed Muhamad and Tania Scivetti.