The Foreign Ministry views seriously the alleged rape of an Indonesian woman by three policemen in Prai, Penang last Friday, says its minister Anifah Aman.

In a statement issued today, he noted that the three policemen were now under remand over the rape incident alleged to have occurred at 7am on Nov 9.

NONE "The ministry has contacted the Penang Criminal Investigation Department head, SAC Mazlan Kesah on the day of the alleged incident to obtain more details.

"We were informed that the three policemen involved were being remanded and investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code," he said in the statement.

Anifah ( right ) said the ministry was also informed that the completed investigation report would be forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor for further action, while a special team had already been formed by Penang police to investigate the case thoroughly.

"The ministry will follow closely the development and will give its full cooperation to the Indonesian government over this case," he said.

Protest in Jakarta

A group of people held a protest in Jakarta today over an alleged rape of an Indonesian woman by three policemen in Prai, Penang, last Friday.

NONE Some 20 people, who were said to represent Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera), took to the street near the residence of the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia in Jalan Patra Kuningan Utara.

They burned the Malaysia flag and urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to deport the ambassador, failing which they called for his resignation.

The police closed a road leading the ambassador's residence to prevent the demonstrators from making their way through.

The demonstration lasted for about 50 minutes, during which the

participants, including children and women, held placards, which among others, read "Evict the Malaysian ambassador, Crush and Fight Malaysia".

Indonesian police, including members of the bomb disposal unit, guarded the Malaysian ambassador's residence and the Malaysian Embassy in Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, during the protest.

A bus ferrying Bendera protestors passed through and headed for their headquarters in Jalan Diponegoro without stopping there.

- Bernama