2 Sisters & Their Husbands Plead Not Guilty In Viral Maid Abuse Case In Johor

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Two married couples have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges linked to the alleged abuse of their Indonesian domestic helpers in Johor

Muhamad Firdaus Sha'aban, 33, and his wife Nurafiqah Nabilah Hazhar, 33, together with Muhamad Hirzihaziq Abulaes, 30, and his wife Nurfarah Ainna Hazhar, 34, claimed trial after the charges were read before Magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab at the Johor Bahru Magistrates' Court yesterday, 22 June, reported Malay Mail.

According to the charge sheet, the four accused allegedly caused injuries to Indonesian domestic helper Yulia Arnida, 34, at a house in Jalan Ledang, Tampoi, at 8.30pm on 22 December last year.

They were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 for acts committed with common intention. The offence carries a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.

In separate proceedings, Firdaus and Nurafiqah were also charged with causing injury to two other Indonesian women, Yatina Yusnita and Siti Hajar, at a house in Taman Daya on 11 June this year

Firdaus faced two additional charges under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966 for allegedly possessing the passports of the two women without lawful authority.

Meanwhile, Hirzihaziq and Nurfarah each faced two charges of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code for allegedly threatening the two women on 12 June.

The courts granted bail ranging from RM5,500 to RM11,500 and fixed two dates in July for case mention and document submissions.

The case first came to light after a video went viral

The case sparked public outrage earlier this month after a video showing a domestic helper being physically assaulted by two men and two women circulated on social media.

In the footage, the victim could be seen sitting on a white couch while the four individuals allegedly took turns hitting and slapping her.

Police later revealed that all four suspects lived in the same house and that the two female suspects are siblings.

Investigations expanded after two former domestic helpers lodged police reports alleging that they had also been repeatedly abused by the couples. The women, both in their 20s, had reportedly fled the house earlier this year and received assistance from the Indonesian Consulate-General in Johor Bahru.

Meanwhile, the maid seen in the viral video has also been charged

According to the New Straits Times, Yulia Arnida pleaded not guilty to allegedly abusing her employer's 1-year-old child at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court yesterday.

The 34-year-old Indonesian woman was accused of causing physical injury to the toddler by pulling the child's hair and right arm, resulting in bruises.

The alleged offence took place at a house in Taman Johor on 21 December last year.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both upon conviction.

The court denied bail as her passport was being held by a third party and ordered her to be remanded at the Simpang Renggam detention centre pending temporary travel documents from the Indonesian government.

The case has been fixed for mention and submission of documents on 29 June.