Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry has provided assistance and trauma support to SK (23), a household assistant from Pemalang, Central Java, who was allegedly abused by her employer in an apartment in Simprug, South Jakarta.

"We have provided assistance twice and we will continue to provide assistance, especially related to trauma healing," assistant deputy for women victims of violence services at the ministry, Icha Margaretha Robin, informed here on Wednesday.

The efforts would be carried out in collaboration with regional officials in Pemalang, where the victim resides, she added.

"Trauma healing is not as easy as turning hand around; it must be facilitated by a clinical psychologist, including a psychiatrist, and we have indeed coordinated this," she informed.

A team from the ministry also provides specific assistance to victims in order to protect and fulfill their rights, including by accompanying victims during the legal process.

"We expect that the articles that have been imposed will have a deterrent effect on the perpetrators, because, for us, there is no slightest tolerance for forms of violence befalling women, particularly in the domestic scope," he said.

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Investigators from Greater Jakarta Area Police Department arrested eight people on suspicion of assaulting SK.

The eight alleged perpetrators comprised the employer of the victim, his wife, their children, and five other assistants.

The abuse came to light after the victim returned home to Pemalang, Central Java, with injuries.

The victim then filed a report with the Pemalang Police, which was then forwarded to Greater Jakarta Area Police Department.

Based on this report, a team from the Renakta Sub-Directorate and the Mobile Investigation Sub-Directorate of the Greater Jakarta Area Police Department immediately went to the alleged perpetrators’ apartment to arrest them.

The victim had been working in the apartment as a maid for the past six months and was reportedly tortured over the past three months after she was accused of stealing her employer's underwear.

The eight have now been named suspects and face sanctions under Article 33 of the Criminal Code, Article 351 of the Criminal Code, and Articles 44 and 45 of the Law on the Elimination of Domestic Violence, which prescribe a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

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Translator: Fianda S R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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