A Singaporean woman admitted in court yesterday to a series of physical and verbal assaults on her Indonesian domestic helper, exposing a harrowing pattern of abuse that only came to light through a neighbor’s anonymous call to police.
Tan Siew Mei, 41, pleaded guilty to five charges, including voluntarily causing hurt, causing distress with abusive language, and obstructing the course of justice. Another 17 charges remain under consideration for sentencing.
Channel News Asia reported that the court heard disturbing details of Tan’s abuse, inflicted upon the 43-year-old maid throughout June 2020. Yanking the maid’s ponytail, slapping her face, and kicking her lower body were among the violent acts described.
Tan’s verbal abuse was equally egregious, with her repeatedly calling the maid “stupid,” “rubbish,” and “not human.” She threatened to “wash” and “scrub” the maid, revealing a deeply unsettling mindset.
The victim’s plight went unreported for weeks. CCTV cameras captured the abuse, but Tan, upon realizing the police were on their way, desperately attempted to delete the evidence by remotely reformatting the memory cards.
Thankfully, a concerned neighbor intervened, alerting the authorities. Even then, Tan tried to obstruct the investigation, instructing the maid to remain silent and falsely claiming the maid’s injuries were self-inflicted.
A key point of contention remains Tan’s mental state. While the prosecution maintains she is not suffering from clinical depression, the defense argues that major depressive disorder contributed to her actions. A Newton hearing will be held to determine the validity of these claims, with sentencing to follow.
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