AN Indonesian housemaid found sleeping rough at a construction site in Budaiya last month has returned home after her employer handed over BD450 in unpaid wages.

The GDN reported last month that Aminah Rapidin had been rescued by a Pakistani car cleaner after running away from the Bahraini family she worked for.

She lodged a complaint against her employer earlier this month and the case was referred to the Public Prosecution. The 28-year-old was initially taken into custody, prompting fears that she could be deported empty-handed. However, her employer came forward to pay the money she was owed and bought her a plane ticket to Indonesia.

"Ms Rapidin was taken into custody when we approached the Budaiya Police Station to file a report against the sponsor," said an Indonesian Consulate spokesman. "She was in custody for seven days and her case was referred to the prosecution.

Promised

"The sponsor came, paid the pending amount and gave an air ticket for her to travel back to Indonesia. We thank authorities for solving the case and helping the maid get the money. We thought she would be deported when she was taken into custody."

Ms Rapidin claimed she was promised a salary of BD45 a month, but was not paid for 10 months. She said she was made to sign a blank piece of paper by her employer, who took her salary back after getting her signature.

She came to Bahrain 19 months ago from Jakarta, but first fled her employer's house five months ago and went to the police station to file a complaint. But she claimed when police contacted her employer, he promised to pay up and took her back, but never handed over the cash. She ran away again claiming she still hadn't been paid and was beaten by her employer's wife, who allegedly forced her to sleep on the roof without air-conditioning.