A women's organisation today urged the government not to 'revictimise' abused foreign maids with snail-paced investigation and court processes.

In view of this, the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) called on the authorities to conduct a speedy investigation into the alleged abuse of a 19-year-old Indonesian maid at the hands of her employer's wife.

WAO executive director Ivy Josiah said the lengthy investigation and court process posed problems for victims as they must pay RM100 a month for a special pass to remain in the country to assist investigations.

"A further injustice is that they are not permitted to work or switch employers. The present system serves to re-victimise the victim," she added in a press statement.

Josiah said a fast-track process must be put in place to expedite investigations and trial procedures.

"We also urge the Immigration (Department) to waive the special pass fee and issue special work permits during the period their (the victims) stay in the country," she added.

She said WAO has requested for a meeting with the Home Affairs Ministry and the Immigration Department for the past six months to discuss this issue, but there has been no response.

Horrific abuse

Photographs of Nirmala Bonet nursing horrific burn marks and wounds were splashed on the front-pages of all the newspapers today.

The Indonesian embassy is providing shelter for the teenager from Kupang, Nusa Tenggara East, and police have detained the 35-year-old wife of a managing director to assist investigations.

Nirmala's plight was exposed after a security guard at the condominium where she worked saw her crying on Monday and noticed that she had ugly bruises all over her swollen face and was bleeding from the head and mouth.

Police were called and Nirmala said her employer's wife had abused her daily for the last five months, burning her with a hot iron, pouring boiling water on her and beating her.