Maid who killed employer's daughter jailed 20 years

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:40 PM

Maid who killed employer's daughter jailed 20 years
By Kimberly Spykerman | Posted: 08 October 2012 2021 hrs

SINGAPORE: An Indonesian maid who pushed a 12-year-old disabled girl off a ledge in 2010 was jailed 20 years for culpable homicide on Monday.

The maid, who goes by one name, Nurhayati, was 16 years old at the time she pushed Linda Lee Yee Lin off the 16th floor parapet ledge of a block in Hougang Street 51.

She had been hired only the month before to care for Linda.

The court heard that Nurhayati was having difficulty adjusting to life in Singapore, and had not been well-equipped or trained to care for a disabled child.

Linda suffered from Scoliosis, and was both physically and mentally disabled.

The court also heard that Nurhayati was angry and irritated with Linda's father, Mr Lee Kai Yam, as he often reprimanded her about her work.

She had even planned to kill him by mixing his coffee with insect poison, but did not follow through.

On November 24, 2010, Nurhayati suddenly thought of killing Linda, to take revenge on Mr Lee.

After Mr Lee left for work, Nurhayati carried Linda out of the family's flat on the fourth floor and took the lift to the ground floor, but did not know how to kill her.

She then got back into the lift and went up to the 16th floor, where she then pushed Linda off the parapet wall.

Nurhayati then staged Linda's disappearance as a child abduction.

She wrote a note addressed to Mr Lee using a red pen, and taped it to Linda's bedroom door, before she lay down, naked, on the floor of the bedroom to pretend she was sexually assaulted.

Police later uncovered the truth during investigations.

The prosecution pressed for a deterrent sentence saying that the victim was a vulnerable handicapped child, and that the crime was committed out of spite and pure vengeance.

Linda's parents were present for the hearing.

Her father said he was still trying to cope with the loss of his only child.

Nurhayati's mother was also in court, and spent 15 tearful minutes with her daughter after the sentence was meted out.

- CNA/cc

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:41 PM

THE body of a young girl was found at the foot of a Housing Board block in Hougang early yesterday morning.

According to the reporter who was at the scene, the girl was clad in a set of white pajamas
with pink floral patterns when she was found, with many injuries on her body.

Police cordoned off the area where Linda was found.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:42 PM

Police said they received a call at about 6am informing them of a motionless body
lying in front of a refuse collection point at Block 573, Hougang Street 51.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:44 PM

The girl's body at the foot of the block.

The girl's pyjamas (in the box) after being removed from the girl's body.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:45 PM

When the girl's mother identified her daughter's body, the neighbour said that the mother "collapsed and cried loudly".

Police said the case is classified as murder and investigations are on-going.

The police have led the family's maid away to assist in their investigations.
She was sleeping when the police came knocking at the family's home.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:46 PM

It was a tense situation as police investigated.

2 police officers standing outside the Lees' flat after the family called the police to complain that reporters were bugging them.

Police officers leaving with evidence from the flat.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:47 PM

Linda's mother.

Madam Lim Soh Keng, 41, and her son, speaking to reporters.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:48 PM

Linda's paternal grandmother, Madam Koh Lee Eng (in colourful striped polo tee) and her husband, in striped shirt (sitting down).

Linda's paternal granmother, Madam Koh Lee Eng.

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:49 PM

A TV grab showing the 24-year-old Indonesian maid being taken away by the police on 24 November 2010 in connection with the murder of Linda Lee, 12, who was found dead at the foot of a Hougang block of flats. -- PHOTO: TV GRAB MEDIA CORPS CH 8

Linda Lee. -- PHOTO: LEE FAMILY

Family of Linda Lee, murder victim who died after fall from height. -- PHOTO: ST PHOTO

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:50 PM

-- PHOTO: TNP

Linda Lee's paternal grandmother Madam Koh Lee Eng and her husband. The body of Linda Lee, 12, was found dead at the foot of Block 573 at Hougang Street 51 on 24 November 2010. She was physically disabled and had low IQ. The girl, who could not walk on her own and could hardly speak, attended a special school nearby. Police has classified the case as murder and they had arrested the maid who was looking after the girl. -- PHOTO: TNP

**Terry Bogard** · 08-10-2012, 04:51 PM

Linda Lee, 12, who had physical and mental disabilities was found dead at the foot of her blocks of flat in Hougang Street 51 on 24 November 2010.
The family's new Indonesian maid was taken away for questioning. -- PHOTO: ST PHOTO

Linda Lee, 12, who had physical and mental disabilities was found dead at the foot of her blocks of flats in Hougang Street 51 on 24 November 2010.
-- PHOTO: ST PHOTO

Police officers covering the body of Linda Lee, 12, who was found dead at the foot of Block 573 at Hougang Street 51 on 24 November 2010. She was believed to have fallen from height. Linda is believed to be physically disabled and could not move around on her own. She attended the Asian Women?s Welfare Association School, a special-education institution. Police has classified the case as murder and they have arrested a maid who was looking after her. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN

**seesuatah** · 08-10-2012, 05:51 PM

Why would any sane person kill another?

Probably kena mentality or physically abused by her employers.

Sad case. Using her to remove their inconvenience.

Her mom doesnt look sad at all.

Strange.