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AMalaysian actress has reported her Indonesian maid to the police, claiming she abused her 6-month-old baby daughter and caused almost $15,000 in damage to her furnishings.

Siti Shahrizah Saifuddin, 38, told the Mont Kiara Police in Kuala Lumpur that the maid, identified only as Mona, originally from Medan, abused her daughter on one occasion when the two were left alone. Siti said she returned home to find that her daughter had a wound to her hand and bloody lips.

She told police Mona fled the house more than two weeks ago.

Siti said that Mona, who preferred to be called Susi, also scratched and broke much of her furniture, causing at least 50,000 ringgit ($15,000) in damage.

The actress, best known as the hostess on the Malaysian version of “Wheel of Fortune,” said she hired the maid from an official agency. She told journalists she had never scolded or physically abused the maid.

However, she acknowledged warning Mona on several occasions after seeing scratches caused by a sharp object on her furniture. She also claimed Mona damaged her electronic equipment.

Siti said she first started to suspect her maid when she insisted on being called Susi even though her passport listed her name as Mona. Siti also said she thought it strange that Mona’s passport stated she was 29 years old but she looked and behaved like someone much younger.

Mona had trouble accepting warnings, Siti said, and would slam doors, throw electronic equipment or start breaking more furniture if reprimanded.

Siti said she initially thought the damage to her furniture and home appliances was just because Mona was clumsy and careless, but after the maid ran away, she said she discovered many other items in her house that were broken.

Widyarka Ryananat, the information, social and cultural affairs counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, told the Jakarta Globe that he had not received any reports regarding the case.

“Usually if there’s a case involving an Indonesian maid, the Malaysian police will inform the embassy, but so far, we haven’t heard of such a case,” he said.

 

Antara, JG