The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) wants the Attorney-General's Chambers to reopen investigations into the claim by an Indonesian woman that she was raped by a member of the volunteer corp Rela.

Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam ( photo, left ) said an official request will be sent to the AG to reconsider the decision not to press charges against the alleged perpetrator.

The decision, reached during a commissioners meeting yesterday, followed new findings pertaining to the case. Among them is that there is a witness to the alleged crime and that the victim herself has come forward.

The 20-year-old victim, Suriayani Nas ( photo, right ), an undocumented migrant, is now five months pregnant.

"In view of the additional evidence, we will ask the AG to review the decision to drop the charges," said Siva when contacted.

"Among the additional measures is for DNA tests to be taken (to determine the paternity of the child)," he added.

Siva met with Suriyani last Friday when he visited the Indonesian embassy's half-way house for Indonesians seeking shelter.

Suriyani, who hails from Lombok near Bali, alleged that after working for two years without pay for an abusive employer in Johor Baru, she met the Rela member who offered to find her a job in Kajang.

However, she claimed that the Rela member subjected her to a month of torture and sexual abuse .

The ordeal ended only when another Rela member, who came to know of her ordeal, rescued her from the house and brought her to a police station.

Disciplinary action

Speaking to reporters and Suhakam officers, Suriyani had named both her captor as well as her rescuer.

Also present was Indonesian embassy consular Tatang Razak, who expressed disappointment that representation made to the Malaysian government was met by the response that there is insufficient evidence to proceed further with the case.

The embassy was also told that Suriyani should be sent back to Indonesia as she is an illegal immigrant, he said, adding that only 'disciplinary action' was taken against the Rela member.

Meanwhile, Rela director-general Zaidon Asmuni said the Rela member had been stripped of his membership in the corp.

"This action was taken against him despite insufficient evidence. The discretion for the director-general to do so is provided for in the laws that regulate the body," he said when contacted.

"We want all our Rela members to be clear of any such allegations," he added.

Zaidon also said since the alleged perpetrator is no longer in Rela, it is not within the responsibility of the volunteer corp to issue any comments on the matter.

"Let the authorities investigate the case if there are claims of new evidence," he added.

While local authorities have denied abuses of migrants are on the rise, the Indonesian embassy has claimed that more than 1,000 abused or unpaid workers seek refuge in its compound every year.

Relations between Malaysia and Indonesia have become strained after a string of embarrassing incidents - including an alleged assault on a senior Indonesian sports official by Malaysian police.

Indonesian girl: I was raped by Rela member