Maid in abuse row is suing for $70,000
An Indonesian maid who was arrested in November on suspicion of indecent conduct towards her employer's child has filed claims for more than $70,000 in underpaid wages and other compensation with the Labour Department.
Siti Rohmi, 26, launched the claims yesterday after police dropped the case against her and a male friend this month.
Ms Rohmi said she also plans to file for breach of contract in the Small Claims Court for her dismissal immediately after her arrest on November 12 at the home of her boss, Cheuk Tung-shan, at Lai King Estate, Kwai Chung.
In November, Mr Cheuk called police to his flat, claiming he was suspicious about Ms Rohmi. The officers reported that they found Ms Rohmi and the man naked in a bedroom. The 2-year-old daughter was also in the room.
The man, a 26-year-old Pakistani, was arrested for indecent conduct towards a child, and the maid was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting that misconduct.
They were never charged, and were allowed to post $1,000 bail each a day after their arrest. Ms Rohmi, who said she is married with a child in Indonesia, yesterday denied they ever had a sexual relationship.
She is claiming $74,382 for two years and five months she worked for Mr Cheuk, claiming he underpaid her.
She is also claiming severance pay, one month's salary in lieu of notice and a plane ticket.
'I was innocent. I only want what is rightly and legally mine for my work. [The claims] don't even include mental anguish and humiliation I have suffered for being arrested and detained,' Ms Rohmi said.
Mr Cheuk last night expressed outrage over her claims, saying he had paid her the statutory monthly pay of $3,670 and later $3,270 after the $400 maid levy was introduced.
'Unfair dismissal after they were caught naked in my home before my children?' he said.
'I have never heard anything more outrageous and unjust in my life.
'They were arrested at the scene, not afterwards, so why did the police say they did not have enough evidence?'
He said he would only pay for her plane ticket and the 12 days she worked in November.
