The West Jakarta Police yesterday arrested a domestic worker suspected of physically abusing her employer’s young son — video of which went hugely viral in Indonesia yesterday.
The domestic worker, who the police identified by her initials NV, was arrested after she went on the run as the video went viral.
“NV said she was upset that the victim was difficult to control when they were out at a mall. When the employer was away, NV took the opportunity to torture the victim,” West Jakarta Police Chief Audie S Latuheru told Kompas.
In the video, NV is seen aggressively trying to paste a piece of sticky paper to the face of a young boy — who does not appear to be any older than five — whose legs and hands were tied with ropes. The boy was crying throughout the short video.
“It was filmed by the other domestic worker in the household. The video was then obtained by the boy’s mother. The video was taken without [NV’s] knowledge,” Audie said.
Police believe the video was taken on Dec. 9, 2019, but the boy’s mother, who is identified by her initials YT, obtained it on Jan. 4, 2020. She reported NV to the police on Tuesday.
Not long after YT obtained the video, she posted on Facebook with a warning that NV had run away and that people should not hire her.
NV was charged with child abuse under Indonesia’s Child Protection Law, for which she could face up to five years in prison.
Police did not disclose details about the boy’s physical and mental condition following the abuse.
