Jakarta – Twenty employees of a company distributing fashion accessories will file charges against their employer after he allegedly abused and took them hostage, their lawyer said Tuesday.

"We're going to file a report Wednesday morning with the Central Jakarta Police," said Hendrik Sirait, from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), adding the employees had approached the PBHI to complain about their treatment.

The case began when two female employees, Peni Purwaningsih and Anita, reported to their supervisor Nunik that another supervisor had stolen some items and sold them. The allegation reached employer Ricky Ahluwalia, who later accused 20 employees of stealing the items.

The employees said Ricky forced them to sign a confession to that effect, alleging he then locked them in the office on a Sunday and took away their wallets and cell phones.

"Two of the female employees were forced to drink from the toilet bowl," Hendrik said.

A male employee said Ricky often abused his male employees. "One driver had his eardrum damaged," the employee said as quoted by kompas.com. "I asked what happened to him, and he said Ricky had hit him."

He added another employee, Adi, was beaten up in a fitting room after Ricky heard the employee playing Indonesian music at one of the distribution branches.

"He broke the CD, took Adi to the fitting room and beat him up," he said. "When Adi got out, he was covered in bruises."

Ricky played down the accusations. "I deny all the allegations," he said. He said he had never forced the employees to sign confessions that they had stolen from him. He also said he had never locked up the employees.

Hendrik said Ricky could face multiple criminal charges, including one on stealing, for confiscating the employees' wallets and phones; one on keeping others captive, and one on torture and abuse.

"The multiple charges carry prison sentences of more than five," Hendrik said. He added police should immediately arrest Ricky.