One year of maximum jail term was called for the married couple who had starved their maid by Deputy Public Prosecutor(DPP) Tan Soo Tet who did not hold back.
Filipina Thelma Oyasan Gawidan 41 was deprived of adequate food by Freelancer trader Lim Choon Hong and his wife Chong Sui Foon resulting the mother of 3 to lose weight from 49kg to 29.4kg in 15 months between 2013 and 2014.
Based on DPP tan submissions on Feb 23, Thursday he said:”It is sickening that the victim had been forced to endure inhumane treatment of such cruelty and duration in what must have for her been an unspeakably hellish and unbearable existence.”
There was no link between her mental condition and her offence even though Chong has a history of obsessive compulsive disorder.
“She deliberately and selectively exercised blatant discrimination against the victim,” he added.
DPP Tan told District Judge Low Wee Ping added from Jan 23, 2013 to April 18, 2014 Lim was jointly responsible in restricting Madam Gawidan’s food over the entire period of her employment. Even when the maid came to Lim to directly ask for more food but her request was turn down and told her to consume what was allocated to her.