MADINA: The Summary Court in Madina Sunday sentenced a Saudi woman to three years in prison for abusing her Indonesian housemaid. The verdict was handed down during the fourth session of the trial in the presence of the representatives of the two parties. The case of Sumiati Mustapa received worldwide attention after she was admitted to hospital last year with broken bones and burns to her face and body. The defendant was indicted for human trafficking which is a public right. The private right demanded by the housemaid's lawyer will be determined at a later hearing. The defendant's lawyer said he will submit an appeal within 30 days of receiving the verdict. At the end of the two-hour hearing the defendant was moved to the general prison. Mustapa was present at the hearing, including the defendant, the Indonesian consul, prosecution representative, two defense lawyers, an Indonesian housemaid – who had worked for the defendant's daughter and testified she witnessed Mustapa being beaten with different objects several times – in addition to three Indonesian translators. The prosecution's representative, Abdul Rahman Al-Muhammadi, said the prosecution's responsibility in the matter of private right, which is to be processed at a later date, is limited to determining the compensation to be paid. He said the evidence of the prosecution was sufficient to prove the physical and psychological damages suffered by the housemaid at the home of the defendant.
