Indonesian presidential hopeful lends a hand in case of maid accused of murder (Updated)

Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party chief patron Prabowo Subianto visited Wilfrida in prison in Kota Baru in mid-September. Photo taken from Subianto's official Facebook page.

KOTA BARU: The case of an Indonesian maid, on trial for killing her employer, has attracted the attention of Indonesian presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto.

Subianto, together with Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayatino, were present at the High Court here on Monday to hear the case involving accused Wilfrida Soik, 18. Wilfrida's parents, Rikardus Mau and Maria Kolo, and acores of Indonesian reporters were also present in the court.

High Court judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim had ordered Wilfrida to undergo tests to determine her age at the time of the alleged murder and psychiatric evaluation.

Earlier, Subianto-appointed counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, made an application for Wilfrida to undergo examination at the Bone Data Unit of Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian.

The case attracted attention in Indonesia due to the accused's claim that she was a victim of human trafficking.

The accused was said to have murdered Yeap Sook Pen in Kampung Lubuk Tapah, Pasir Mas between 11am and 12.30pm on Dec 7, 2010.

 She was charged with murder which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Shafee contended that Wilfrida was an underaged person at the time of the alleged crime.

"It has come to my knowledge that the accused was also found to have suffered from Major Depressive Disorder after she was sent for psychiatric observation and therefore it is important to find out her real age," he said.

 Before adjourning the case to Nov 17, Justice Ahmad Zaidi said the court was blind to race, religion or creed. 

The gallery was packed with the Indonesian press corp after Subianto decided to take up the case "as a mission to save the maid."

Subianto claimed that Wilfrida was abducted by human traffickers and brought to Malaysia to work as a maid when she was still underaged.

Prabowo, from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), is vying to be a candidate in the presidential election  next year.