Abuse began earlier than believed

SINGAPORE - The judge in an earlier case called it one of the worst cases of maid abuse he had seen.

Yesterday, another judge described Chan Huey Fern's actions as "horrifying".

Last year, Chan, then 32, was jailed for 21 months for abusing her Indonesian maid Juwarti, then 22.

It was believed that her abusive acts began only in mid-December 2010.

Yesterday, the State Courts heard that the abuse began earlier, in March that year.

Chan had punched Ms Juwarti in the eye, and kicked her in the groin, abdomen and back.

The ordeal ended at the end of December, when the terrified maid fled the flat to seek treatment.

At the State Courts yesterday, Chan was sentenced to another three months jail following new evidence.

Distressing Case

District Judge Lee Poh Choo said yesterday: "In his judgment, District Judge Low Wee Ping had counselled that this was one of the most distressing maid abuse cases he has seen, and I'm inclined to agree with him."

Chan had faced seven charges of voluntarily causing hurt to Ms Juwarti between March and November 2010.

She pleaded guilty to one charge of hitting her maid with a foldable chair. The other charges were taken into consideration.

The assault with the chair happened after Ms Juwarti had been looking for a compact disc for Chan's young son in the living room of their Buangkok Link flat sometime between July and September that year.

But Chan felt that her maid had not been looking hard enough and became angry.

She punched Ms Juwarti on the chest, causing her to fall.

She then pulled her by the collar to the master bedroom and closed the door.

Chan proceeded to scold her maid while pushing her head against the wall, kicking her in the stomach and then stamping on her body while she crouched in pain.

Finally, she told Ms Juwarti to face the wall before hitting her twice on the back with a foldable chair.

In court, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jason Chua highlighted the fact that she had "abused her power of authority as the maid's employer".

Said DPP Chua: "The accused allowed the victim to leave the flat only after her injuries had subsided, so that she couldn't report it.

"The accused and her husband also told the victim that the maid agency (owner) was their long-time friend and would ignore her pleas (for help)."

He said that Chan had shown "a blatant lack of remorse to the victim" and had not assisted the police in their investigations.

"The accused has shown that she is self-serving and concerned only about herself. She pleads guilty because she has exhausted all her legal options."

In her previous conviction, she had denied guilt and fought a 13-day trial. She also appealed against her 21-month jail sentence.

"Now that she's pleading guilty, it is a case of too little, too late," said DPP Chua.

Chan did not offer any form of compensation to Ms Juwarti, although her lawyer said she had apologised in court and was also willing to write a letter of apology to her.

To which, the judge retorted: "What is the value of telling me that you are sorry? Has she done anything to apologise to the victim?"

Her lawyer cited a psychiatric report that said Chan suffered from a major depressive disorder.

Said her lawyer: "She had a problematic childhood and was depressed after the birth of her second child... She developed aggressive symptoms, had mood swings and often quarrelled with her husband."

Chan had been angry with Ms Juwati as she was unhappy with the way her maid took care of her son and daughter, who were then aged one and three.

Her actions were not due to her own choice, said her lawyer.

But the judge disagreed with the psychiatric report, which was not brought up during her previous conviction.

"Chan had chosen to commit these acts," said Ms Lee in sentencing Chan.

Chan's husband, Mr Phua Tai Wah, told The New Paper that her children, who are now in Primary 1 and kindergarten, "missed her very much".

Chan will start her latest sentence after completing her current jail term.

She could have been jailed up to three years and fined $7,500.

ngjunsen@sph.com.sg

The accused has shown that she is self-serving and concerned only about herself. She pleads guilty because she has exhausted all her legal options.

- Deputy Public Prosecutor Jason Chua on Chan Huey Fern

This article was first published on September 11, 2014.
Get The New Paper for more stories.