Indonesian denies murder bid

Friday March 6, 2009

The Star Online

By K. KASTURI DEWI

GEORGE TOWN: The Indonesian maid accused of attacking her employer last week has been charged with attempted murder.

Hanni Seo, 23, from Kupang, Indonesia, denied attacking her employer Phang Kian Huang, 42, with a wooden stool, pestle and knife at the latter's home at Rifle Range in Air Itam at 10am on Feb 26.

Phang was taking a nap when she was attacked, leaving her with broken ribs and an almost severed ear.

Maid in the dock Hanni Seo being led by a policewoman to face a charge of attempting to murder her employer. The Indonesian had to be read the charges five times before she tearfully pleaded not guilty. -H.N. LEONG/ The Star

At the Sessions Court yesterday, Hanni, sporting a cropped haircut and clad in a light blue T-shirt and a pair of jeans, only pleaded not guilty after the charge was explained to her at least five times.

Two interpreters took turns to explain the charge to her.

At one juncture, even Sessions judge Roslan Hamid explained the charge to her in simple Bahasa Malaysia but Hanni still seemed confused and lost.

Counsel Sukhindarpal Singh, who was in court for another case, represented her as amicus curiae or friend of the court, then stood up and said that he believed her case had not been referred to the Indonesian consulate here.

"Furthermore, the accused has no counsel and she may be confused as to the charge she is facing," he said.

Judge Roslan then spoke to Hanni and tried explaining the charge.

He also told her that the court would direct the prosecution to write to the consulate about her case and to engage a lawyer for her.

After senior interpreter Badriah Hanani Abu Bakar explained to her what Roslan had said, Hanni started sobbing and said she wanted to claim trial.

Judge Roslan fixed the case for mention on April 2 to allow time for the consulate to be informed of the case.

Hanni was not allowed bail because she is a foreigner.