Dead Verdict In Indonesian Maid's Case In Malaysia postponed

Jakarta, Oct 1 (Antara) - A Malaysian court on Monday adjourned until November 17 a session initially scheduled to issue a preliminary death verdict to Indonesian maid Wilfrida for an alleged murder after her lawyers stated she was under age, an official revealed. "Judge Datuk Akhmad Zaidi Ibrahim of Kelantan`s High Court ruled that the session for rejecting or accepting the death penalty demanded by prosecutors for Wilfrida could not be continued," Moh Jumhur Hidayat, the head of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers Overseas (BNP2TKI), said on Tuesday. The BNP2TKI head was present in Kelantan on Monday to witness the trial, accompany and seek freedom for Wilfrida, who was accused by prosecutors of having murdered Yeap Seok Pen (60), a family member of her employer, on December 7, 2010. Hidayat further stated that Judge Zaidi Ibrahim had postponed announcing the verdict after considering a request from Wilfrida`s lawyer Tan Sri Mohd Syafii Abudullah. In addition to Syafii, who is a noted Malaysian lawyer, the defense team from Rafitzi&Rao law firm attended the ninth session on Monday. Rafitzi&Rao have been appointed by the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to defend Wilfrida since the beginning of the case. "The judge agreed to the lawyers` demand of adding facts to Wilfrida`s status that she was below 18 years when the murder took place on December 7, 2010," Hidayat said. Wilfrida, who was born on October 12, 1983, cannot be punished with a death penalty on charges of premeditated murder, because she was less than 18 years old at the time. However, Hidayat explained that Malaysian law does not allow a premeditated charge and a death punishment can be awarded to a person aged below 18 years. He added that Wilfrida`s lawyers had also requested a psychiatric examination for her at the Malaysian Science University (Universiti Sains Malaysia) in order to determine her psychological state. They also asked for a bone aging examination at a laboratory to prove her actual age. Hidayat pointed out that the adjournment of Monday`s court session was very good because it would help his group`s fight for safeguarding Wilfrida, adding that he was optimistic that the Indonesian house maid could be freed from the death punishment threat. The Indonesian senior manpower official also said that Wilfrida had gone to Malaysia through an illegal channel on November 26, 2010. Certain individuals had helped her obtain a passport and marked her age up to 21 years so that she could work as a house maid. Indonesian law does not allow Indonesian citizens aged below 21 years to work abroad as domestic helpers. In a court session held on August 26, Wifrida was charged with a premeditated murder, which could make her face a mandatory death sentence. Monday`s court session was also attended by Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno, legislator Rieke Dyah Pitaloka of the House Commission IX, Chief Patron of the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) Prabowo Subianto and a number of human rights activists representing non-governmental organizations, such as Usman Hamid. Also present were Wilfrida`s parents, Belu Diocese representative Father Gregory Sainudin Dudy and Belu regional government officials of the East Nusa Tenggara province.