KUALA LUMPUR, 8 July 2009: A single mother pleaded not guilty in the Ampang Magistrate’s Court today to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to her Indonesian maid, Modesta Rengga Kaka.
Choo Pei Ling, 37, is alleged to have committed the offence on Modesta, 25, using a cane at her house in No. 255 Jalan 8, Kampung Baru, Ampang, at 1.20am on 25 June.
The mother of two is charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum of three-year jail sentence, a fine or caning, or either two of the sentences.
Prosecutor ASP Dr A Vasu asked the court set a RM5,000 bail in one surety, saying that the issue was a serious matter in the wake of the freeze in the supply of Indonesian maids following numerous cases involving them.
Choo’s lawyer R Arumugam, however, asked to the court to set a lower bail as his client was seven months pregnant, had health as well as financial problems, and has been separated from her husband since six months ago.
Magistrate Azaraorni Abdul Rahman, who set 25 Aug for the mention, allowed a RM3,500 bail in one surety and ordered Choo’s passport to be impounded.
Choo’s father posted the bail. — Bernama
