In Malaysia, it’s pretty common for families to hire a nanny or maid to help out at home, especially when they have young kids. This is especially true for working parents who need extra support with household chores and childcare.
In a recent update shared by New Straits Times, a plea for help led to the rescue of a 21-year-old Indonesian maid who had been locked up on the balcony of a condominium in Petaling Jaya.
She was only given a mattress and a pillow to sleep on
The Indonesian woman’s horrifying experience was put to an end after she successfully managed to get help by writing a note and tossing it out from the balcony.
It was said that she was only allowed in the house from 5 am to 11 am to clean. The rest of the time, she remained locked up on the balcony.
To make matters worse, she was only given a mattress and a pillow to sleep on. When it rained, she had no shelter and often had to endure sleeping in wet conditions.
She remained locked out on the balcony and faced daily scolding
Federal CID assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong pointed out that the victim hadn’t been paid because she had only been working for the family for about a week.
“While the victim received food and drinks 3 times daily, she faced daily scolding from her employer and was kept locked up,” Soffian added.
According to The Straits Times, on June 9 at 5 pm, Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) division conducted a raid on the condominium.
They managed to arrest a 69-year-old woman who they suspect was the victim’s employer, and the case is now being investigated under the Atipsom Act and Immigration Act.
We hope the victim is safe and well, and that she can recover from the trauma she endured under such an employer.
Also read: 21yo Maid Dies After M’sian Employers Allegedly Forced Her to Sleep Outside