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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Family of  Maid Doubts Saudi Suicide Finding

Jakarta Globe, Dessy Sagita, July 31, 2011

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The family of an Indonesian maid who died in Saudi Arabia has asked local authorities to perform a second autopsy on the maid’s body, which arrived in the country on Friday.

According to Saudi authorities, Ernawati, from Central Java, committed suicide, but her family believes the woman was beaten to death by her employer.

A second autopsy will be performed by Munim Idris, a forensic expert at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, said Elly Anita, of advocacy group Migrant Care.

The first autopsy, performed by officials in Saudi Arabia, determined that Ernawati died on Feb. 10 after consuming rat poison.

She allegedly called her family in December complaining that her employer often abused her.

“She told her sister that she had been whipped with a water hose by her employer,” Elly said.

Ernawati’s family, accompanied by Migrant Care representatives, reported the case to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jan. 31.

But they said little was done.

“We had communicated directly with Ernawati and she said she was in a very bad shape from the abuse,” Elly said.

The family filed a complaint with the National Police last month against the two men who reportedly sent the woman abroad with falsified documents.

Ernawati was 16 years old when she was sent to Saudi Arabia with the falsified documents, which made her eligible for employment in the kingdom.

“We deeply regret the tardiness of the Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Embassy [in Riyadh] in evacuating Ernawati,” Elly said.

According to Migrant Care, Ernawati had worked in the house with another Indonesian maid since 2008.

She is not the first migrant worker to die under suspicious circumstances this year.

In March, Aan Darwati binti Udin was found dead in the bathroom of her employer’s home. She reportedly suffered blunt-force trauma to several parts of her body.

Another abused maid, Darwasih Udin, died in a Mecca hospital. She reportedly suffered severe injuries to her head, as well as to other parts of her body.


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