SINGAPORE: A housewife has been sentenced to 13
months' jail for abusing her Indonesian domestic helper for more
than four months, resulting in an ear deformity.
Norhanita Sulaiman was found guilty of three charges
of attacking her maid over what Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP)
Norman Yew termed "trivial reasons".
The 43-year-old mother of two burned her maid's face
with a heated iron, slapped her and threatened her at
knife-point.
The assaults took place at her flat in Geylang between March and
June 2010.
The court heard that Norhanita was unhappy with her maid's
performance of various household chores.
She threatened to kill the maid with a 12-centimetre knife for
forgetting to switch off a thermal flask after use.
On another occasion, she placed an iron on her maid's cheek for not
ironing clothes properly.
As a result, the 44-year-old helper suffered multiple injuries,
including abrasions and scarring.
DPP Yew said the maid also suffered mental abuse as she was
instructed by Norhanita to lie to a doctor about the cause of her
injuries.
District Judge Liew Thiam Leng noted that the domestic helper was
in a vulnerable position when Norhanita abused her authority.
MediaCorp understands the maid is currently seeking employment in
Singapore.
- CNA/al
