Five migrant workers escape torture

The Jakarta Post ,  Tangerang   |  Thu, 01/01/2009 

Five Indonesian migrant workers have escaped from a shelter in Tangerang where they were frequently subjected to torture during their two-month stay, Antara state news agency reported Thursday.

The workers -- Hamidah Nuraeni, Supartini, Siti Rohmawati, Ngatining and Ratna Widayanti -- had managed to escape from a temporary shelter managed by the PT Gasindo Buana Sari recruitment company.

The women had used a long cloth to get over the wall surrounding the shelter, and had gone to police because they did not have enough money to get back home.

One of the women, Siti Rohmawati, on Thursday said she had decided to leave the company having often received verbal and physical abuse.

"They kicked and beat me and even ordered that I drink dirty water," Siti said.

The company had not fulfilled its promise to send them to work either in Singapore or Malaysia with salaries between Rp 1.5 (US$ 136) and 2 million a month, she said.

Ciledug Police crimes investigation head Ins. Erizal promised to meet the workers and the Gasindo representatives. (ewd)