Indonesian Domestic Worker’s Sentence Upheld by Malaysian Federal Court, Corporal Punishment Remains
October 2, 2025 – Updated October 2, 2025 at 03:28:37
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, expressed relief following the Malaysian Federal Court’s decision to uphold the conviction of an Indonesian domestic worker.The court affirmed a sentence of eight years in prison and two strokes of the cane for the worker, whose name has not been publicly released.
The original sentence, handed down by a lower court, was 13 years in prison and two strokes of the cane.The appeals court had previously reduced the prison term to eight years while maintaining the corporal punishment.
hermono stated he hopes the ruling will establish a precedent for other ongoing cases involving Indonesian domestic workers, specifically mentioning Mariance Kabu, Mei Haryanti, and Zailis. He believes the decision “sends a clear message” regarding the legal treatment of Indonesian citizens working in Malaysia.
Related issues surrounding the treatment of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia have recently gained attention. Indonesia recently repatriated 73 deported migrant workers from Malaysia, and the BP3MI (Badan Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia - Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency) repatriated over 2,000 workers,including 77 children,from Malaysia.
