A Singapore couple who starved their maid until she weighed just 29kg were jailed on Monday, in a case of “shocking.”
Trader Lim Hong, 48, was sentenced to 3 weeks in jail and fined S$10,000, while his wife Chong Foon was jailed 3 months, the couple’s lawyer told.
Both were convicted last year of violating laws for failing to provide enough food for their maid, Thelma Oyasan.
State prosecutors, who have described “downright shocking” are pushing for the pair to be jailed for the maximum 12 months.
Gawidan lost almost 20kg during her time working for the couple, who only allowed her to eat two meals a day. She was not allowed to go out on her own and only allowed to shower twice a week.
Gawidan ran away in April 2014 and called for help. She filed a complaint with the manpower ministry.
The couple’s lawyer Raymond told- they will remain out on bail pending the appeal, adding that they were “sincere in their regret”.
Many Singapore households depend on domestic help. In 2016 there were 240,700 foreign maids working in the city-state from Indonesia and the Philippines.
