Malaysia couple charged over Indonesia maid death

A Malaysian couple have been charged with the murder of their Indonesian maid, a lawyer said Thursday, amid concerns the incident may inflame relations between the Southeast Asian neighbours. Fong Kong Meng, 55, and his wife Teoh Ching Yen, 53, were charged in a district court outside the capital Kuala Lumpur Wednesday with murder, said Fong's lawyer Gouk Ngek Seong. Murder carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction in Malaysia. The couple's maid, Isti Komariyah, was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital on June 5. The 26-year-old, who had been working for the couple since 2008, had bruises on her body, causing authorities to suspect abuse. No plea was recorded from Fong and Teoh pending the case's transfer to a high court next month, Gouk said. Authorities have not specified the cause of death. The Indonesian embassy welcomed the swift action by the Malaysian authorities so far. "We applaud and appreciate the steps taken by the government of Malaysia to charge" this couple, spokesman Suryana told AFP. "If Malaysia doesn't take any necessary action and delays the action or the trial, it will be dangerous," he said. Abuse cases in the past led to protests in Indonesia and caused the country to stop sending domestic helpers to Malaysia until their protection could be guaranteed. Jakarta lifted the two-year freeze late last month after the two countries agreed on better working conditions under a new deal designed to end abuse and torture. About 170,000 women, mostly from Indonesia, work as maids in Malaysia, according to the Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies.