A domestic worker in Jakarta, Indonesia, died of exhaustion and hunger after being locked in a bathroom by her employer with nothing to eat for five days. He had accused her of stealing money and food.
The woman, identified as LN, was thin and covered in old and new bruises, The Jakarta Post reported.
Budhi Herdi Susianto, the police chief for North Jakarta, said the employer known as TVL abused LN if she did not comply with his demands. He said that if LN failed to iron the clothes up to the employer’s standards, she would be hit with an iron.
LN had been employed by the man for four years and he allegedly abused her for some time. She was never allowed to visit her hometown. Police are investigating the mental condition of the suspect, who has been communicative and answering questions.
There may also be another suspect, as there were other domestic workers in the house who were also in poor condition.
Authorities were made aware of the case when TVL took the body of LN – who died at 3 am on May 20 – to the Atma Jaya funeral home in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. The workers at the funeral home saw the bruises on her body and called the police.
Authorities have detained TVL at the Penjaringan police station. He will be charged under Law No. 23/2004 on domestic violence eradication. If found guilty, TVL could be jailed for up to 15 years.