Adelina Lisao’s case, a young Indonesian domestic worker who passed away on the 11th February 2018 due to organ failure as a result of abuse and neglect, has caught the eyes of many across nations. 

Adelina was found with a swollen face, bruises all over her body and pus-filled wounds which were a result of the burns on her arms and legs. Due to the extent of her injuries which were left untreated, her employers forced her to sleep outside in the compound with the dog to prevent “dirtying the home” from her weeping wounds. By the time Adelina was admitted in the hospital, it was evident that she was on borrowed time and she passed away only a day after she was rescued. 

The High Court, evoking Section 254(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, acquitted the accused, Ambika on grounds of health concerns and lack of evidence despite the deputy Public Prosecutor’s request for a discharge not amounting to acquittal. A year later, the bench in the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision put forth by the High Court, claiming that the decision was not erroneous. This decision was a regressive step for the Malaysian justice system - it conveyed a severely harmful  message condoning heinous acts of abuse and exploitation. The climate of impunity afforded to those undeserving of it must be put to an end.

This petition demands for Ambika MA Shan to be charged separately under Section 304 of the Penal Code which provides for deaths caused by culpable homicide not amounting to murder or those caused by negligence. The prosecution is looking to correct this grave miscarriage of justice. 

A person is dead and her blood is on all our hands. Allowing for perpetrators such as Ambika to walk free makes us all complicit in the death of Adelina and many others who shared the same fate. 

Adelina’s life is the sad reality of thousands more domestic workers who are susceptible to all forms of exploitation, and it is high time that we make an effort to increase protection for all domestic workers. 

We hope that you will join us in seeking justice as we believe that we owe it to Adelina and her family to protect her dignity in her absence. Signing this petition is a step forward in preserving the integrity of our justice system and ensuring that it provides protection due to all and especially the marginalized and vulnerable.