A 67-year-old Singaporean woman was sentenced to four months in jail and ordered to pay compensation for repeatedly assaulting her Myanmar domestic helper over minor household tasks, resulting in injuries and permanent scars. The case highlights the vulnerability of domestic workers and the legal ramifications for abusers.
A 67-year-old Singapore an woman was sentenced to four months in jail for repeatedly abusing her Myanmar domestic helper over household chores. The abuse, which included slapping, punching, and scratching, left the victim with bruises, cuts, and permanent scars.
The perpetrator, Hazel Phang Fong Yen, was also ordered to pay S$4,440 in compensation, with an additional four-week jail term for non-payment. The case came to light after a concerned family member and a routine welfare check by the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) prompted the victim to report the abuse. The victim, Man Sian Hoih Cing, 27, started working for Phang in August 2022 for S$470 monthly.
Court documents detailed assaults for minor infractions such as forgetting to check food expiry, failing to hear a call for help, improper cleaning of soap bottles, hanging bedsheets incorrectly, and watering plants before preparing food. Medical examination revealed blunt trauma to an eye, facial bruises, abrasions, and scarring on the lip, cheek, and chest. The Deputy Public Prosecutor sought a four-to-six-month jail term and compensation covering two months of lost income and pain and suffering.
Defense counsel argued for a fine or three-month jail term, citing Phang's remorse and frail health, including lung cancer and osteoarthritis, as well as her caregiving for her elderly mother until her death in 2024. Under Singapore law, voluntarily causing hurt carries a maximum penalty of three years' jail, a fine up to S$5,000, or both, with doubled maximum punishment for offenses against domestic workers.
The case underscores the importance of vigilance in detecting abuse, as domestic workers often live in isolated conditions, and affirms that violence over chores is inexcusable and will be met with serious legal consequences
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