By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 09 December 2010 1630 hrs
SINGAPORE: An Indonesian maid was jailed four months
on Thursday for making a false police report, claiming that her
employer's mother had abused her.
23-year-old Susanti had even splashed hot water on herself to frame
62-year-old Tjong Inggrid Tirtasari.
Susanti, who had accused Madam Tjong of splashing hot water on her,
even had blisters down her back to prove her point.
The maid later admitted that the injuries were
self-inflicted.
She had splashed hot water on herself as she did not want to
continue working for her employer.
Police were notified of the alleged case of maid abuse at around
3pm on July 1 after an employee at the Indonesian Embassy called
the authorities about the incident.
Assistant Superintendent Gabriel Chen interviewed Susanti at the
Tanglin Police Division Headquarters at 8.25pm.
The maid claimed that Madam Tjong had splashed hot water on her
between 10am and noon that day.
Susanti left her employer's Bishan flat and made her way down to
the Indonesian Embassy soon after the alleged abuse.
Because of this false accusation, officers arrested Madam Tjong
that evening and she was placed in police custody for nearly three
hours.
The elderly woman was released on a bail of S$5,000 dollars at
around 2am on July 2.
Susanti only admitted to Assistant Superintendent Chen on August 4
that she had fabricated the whole story as she had wanted to be
sent home to Indonesia without having to settle an outstanding loan
with her agency.
For giving false information to the police, Susanti could have been
jailed up to a year, fined up to S$5,000 or both.
- CNA/fa
