Woman, 64, jailed for kicking maid in the head

Woman, 64, jailed for kicking maid in the head

An elderly woman who kicked a domestic maid in the head was sentenced to a week's jail yesterday.

Myanmar domestic worker Nwe Ni Hlaing had worked for a few days before her employer decided to send her back to the maid agency.

Before she left for the agency on July 1, 2014, the 30-year-old went to her employer's 64-year-old mother, Li Guizhen, who is from China, to apologise for any mistakes while working with her.

She knelt before Li, who was visiting her daughter's family in Jurong West on a long-term visit pass that allowed her to make multiple trips to Singapore.

However, Li, who was standing in front of the victim, swung her knee upwards, hitting the victim's chin forcefully.

Li, who had two charges of committing a rash act and criminal force considered, was jailed for one week yesterday after admitting to hurting the maid.

The victim was found by the National University Hospital Dental Centre to have suffered "a swollen lip and shaky upper front tooth" due to a blunt force.

Calling for a week-long sentence to be imposed, Deputy Public Prosecutor Stephanie Koh said Li's assault on the victim was entirely unprovoked.

Li's lawyer Leon Koh Weijin said Li paid $6,000 compensation to the victim for any loss of income and surgery required.

He said Li committed the offence on impulse and in frustration over what she deemed an inappropriate action by the maid.

He said his client told the maid to get up, but the victim, who speaks English, did not understand Li, who spoke in Mandarin.

The lawyer said Li regarded the act of kneeling before another as one meant for worshipping gods or ancestors.


This article was first published on May 24, 2016.
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