The Malaysian Insider

UPDATED

KLANG, Oct 26 — An abused Indonesian maid, rescued from a house in Taman Sentosa by police last Tuesday, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital here this morning.

Doctors said Mautik Hani, 36, from Surabaya, who had been in a coma since Saturday, died at 10am.

Her death is expected to further sour relations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

A 30-year-old trader and his wife are currently under remand to help investigations, originally into claims of abuse.

Klang police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Mat Yusop, when contacted by The Malaysian Insider, said the case is now a murder investigation.

Mohamad said remand for the employers is also expected to be extended to aid police investigations.

Cases of Indonesian maid abuse have been a major cause of strained relations in recent years and news of Mautik’s death has already been picked up by Indonesian newspapers.

The online edition of Jakarta Globe has the headline "Indonesian Maid in Malaysia Dies After Being Rescued From Alleged Abuse".

Selangor Executive Councillor (Exco) Dr Xavier Jayakumar was on his way to visit Mautik this morning when the hospital called to informed him that she had died.

Dr Xavier said he was saddened by this latest case of maid abuse which resulted in death.

Two officials from the Indonesian Embassy who came to visit Mautika also learnt of her death when they arrived at the hospital, said Dr Xavier.

"I have extended the co-operation of the state government to the Indonesian Embassy, he said.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Indonesian Embassy at the hospital declined to comment on case.

According to the police, the trader who was arrested has seven previous criminal records that included drug offences, causing hurt and robbery.

The maid worked for the couple for at least two months and was found in the toilet where it is believed she was locked up for two days before she was rescued following a tip-off.

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