Housewife who ordered maid to hang laundry from ledge
jailed
By Elena Chong
Feb 8, 2006
The Straits Times
A HOUSEWIFE was yesterday sentenced to two weeks' jail for ordering
her maid out onto a ledge to hang the laundry, resulting in the
22-year-old Indonesian plunging eight floors to her death.
The court rejected Ngu Mei Mei's contention that it was her
mother-in-law, not her, who wanted the clothes hung out on the
ledge.
District Judge Thian Yee Sze said that as the employer, Ngu bore
the 'ultimate responsibility' for the maid's safety.
She should not seek a lighter sentence by arguing that she was a
dutiful daughter-in-law who had to defer to her mother-in-law's
decisions relating to housework.
'The court takes a grave view of irresponsible conduct, albeit
unintended, on the part of an employer,' said the judge.
Ngu, 37, a mother of three, is the first employer to be convicted
for jeopardising her maid's life by placing her in danger.
She had asked Miss Yanti, then 11 days into her job, to climb out
of a window at her Windermere condominium apartment, at Choa Chu
Kang Street 64, onto the ledge to hang laundry on Dec 20,
2003.
After she pleaded guilty last week, her lawyer, Ms Wong Soo Chih,
argued that Ngu should only be fined and not jailed as it was her
mother-in-law who was in charge of supervising the maid.
Under the Penal Code, Ngu could have been jailed up to three months
or fined up to $250, or both.
She produced a statutory declaration from Madam Khoo Siew Neo, 64,
who confirmed that she had ordered the maid to hang laundry on the
ledge. Madam Khoo said she did so despite protests from her
daughter-in-law and her son.
But this cut no ice with the judge yesterday, who noted that the
condominium's architect and management corporation had stated that
the ledge was not intended for residents to use as a balcony.
While she could appreciate the 'complexities and conflicts which
can arise in a familial or other interpersonal relationship', this
does not relieve the employer from bearing the ultimate
responsibility for the maid's safety.
She noted that Ngu was aware of the danger posed to the maid, as
well as two previous maids who had hung laundry in the same
way.
She also rejected as 'immaterial' the defence argument that Madam
Khoo and other residents also used the ledge as a drying
area.
She said: 'It is one thing to take the risk yourself out of your
own volition. It is another matter altogether to subject another
person to such a risk.'
The two-week jail sentence, she said, was to send the message that
it was inexcusable for employers who put their maids' lives in
danger.
A Manpower Ministry spokesman said in such cases, the employer will
be barred from hiring a maid permanently. There were eight
accidental falls last year, she said, adding that maids are briefed
on their rights when they come here, and told to report to the
ministry if their employers compromise their safety.
Maid agents say they do the same too. Mr David Haw of Newway
Holdings even plays a video recording of what happens when someone
falls from a high-rise building.
Labour MP Halimah Yaacob does not think it is enough to take to
task the employer whose name is on the work permit, as others may
be supervising the maid, as was the case with Ngu. A more specific
prohibition on banning such acts would work better.
Ngu's husband, Mr Lim Juay Hiong, 35, said: 'This should not be
made a landmark case. My wife should not be made a scapegoat to
send a message to other employers of maids.'
Deputy Public Prosecutor Crystal Ong told The Straits Times that
there are no plans to prosecute Madam Khoo.
WTF! Such a light penalty for causing maid's death? 
