Couple admit to maid abuse after claiming trial previously
Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan's former employers Lim Choon Hong and his wife Chong Sui Foon at the State Courts on Dec 15, 2015. Photo: Ernest Chua/TODAY
SINGAPORE — After three days of trial, the Singaporean couple at the heart of a controversial maid abuse case admitted to a single charge under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act on Wednesday (March 23).
Lim Choon Hong pleaded guilty to restricting his Filipina domestic helper’s food intake and providing inadequate food, while his wife Chong Sui Foon confessed to abetting him.
Court documents showed that their victim, Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40, started working for the couple on Jan 23, 2013. She lived with them and their three children — aged between 17 and 22 — in a condominium at Cuscaden Walk for about 15 months till April 2014. Her duties included cleaning, doing the laundry and looking after the children’s needs.
Lim was a freelance trader then, and would sleep in the day and work at night. Both Chong and Ms Thelma kept the same hours.
“However, the victim’s sleeping hours were not regular depending on Chong’s instructions as to the completion of her chores,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Soo Tet.
At some point, Chong barred the domestic helper from using the toilets in the house, and instructed her to use the common toilet on the third level of their condominium block. Moreover, Ms Thelma had to be supervised by a member of the household during these trips.
Starting January 2014, Chong permitted her to bathe once or twice a week, and would personally accompany her to the toilet. Apart from restrictions on bathing, the couple also kept a close watch on Ms Thelma’s meals.
Around two weeks into her employment, Ms Thelma started to lose weight, and later stopped menstruating. By the time she escaped from the household, she had lost close to 20kg, and weighed a mere 29.4kg.
The court heard that she was only given two meals a day. The first, given around 1 to 2am, consisted two to three slices of plain white bread and one to two packets of instant noodles. Meagre portions of meat and vegetables were added on occasion. The second meal consisted five to six slices of plain white bread, and was usually provided in the late morning or early afternoon.
Ms Thelma was also restricted from drinking water, and would have to approach Chong for permission to drink tap water. The rest of the household ate food “greater in quantity and (of) higher nutritional value” than Ms Thelma. Her meals remained the same, even on overseas trips.
The case will be heard again on Apr 20. Meanwhile, the couple will undergo further psychiatric assessments.
