Woman found dead in house at Victoria Park Road

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Untouchables

Alfrescian (Inf)

Asset

• Mar 20, 2014

• #1

Updated: 03/19/2014 17:29 | By Channel NewsAsia

Woman found dead in house at Victoria Park Road

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 23-year old Indonesian maid in connection with the murder of a 69-year old woman.

She will be charged in court on Thursday.

The body of the elderly woman was found at a bungalow along Victoria Park Road in the Bukit Timah area on Wednesday morning.

Channel NewsAsia understands the body was found near the swimming pool.

Investigations are ongoing.

This is the second case this month where a maid has been arrested in relation to the murder of her employer.

On March 4, a 24-year-old from Myanmar was arrested for the alleged murder of her elderly employer at the Springdale Condominium in Upper Bukit Timah.

The association looking at foreign domestic worker welfare has urged both workers and employers to work with help avenues available, such as its hotline (1800-339-4358) when facing any problems.

Seah Seng Choon, president of Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training, said: "Employers should recognise that the maid is here to do a job and they are new to our environment. They may come from a very different background than ours."

He added: "I think the employers should always look out for tell-tale signs that the maid is depressed and they need to address this and not sweep it under the carpet.

"They should actually sit down with the maid and talk over the matter as soon as possible, so as to address the concerns and fears of foreign domestic workers."

- CNA/fa

 

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Heaven

Alfrescian (Inf)

Asset

• Mar 21, 2014

• #2

Updated: 03/20/2014 11:21 | By Channel NewsAsia

Indonesian maid charged with murder of 69-year-old woman

SINGAPORE: A 23-year-old Indonesian domestic worker was charged on Thursday with the murder of a 69-year-old woman at Victoria Park Road on Wednesday.

Dewi Sukowati is accused of causing the death of Nancy Gan Wan Geok between 7.30am and 8.46am.

Sporting neck-length hair, Dewi appeared calm in court as she sat in a waiting area for accused persons.

She was also seen initiating brief chats with another woman sitting next to her and waiting for her own charge to be read.

Lawyer Mohamed Muzammil told the court he was approached by the Indonesian Embassy on Wednesday to represent Dewi.

Mr Muzammil told reporters he understands that Dewi had recently come to Singapore, from Pati -- a village in Central Java.

He added that the embassy is still trying to gather more information on Dewi, and is contacting the agency for domestic workers in her village.

Meanwhile, Dewi will be remanded at Changi Women's Prison for psychiatric assessment.

Her case will be mentioned again on April 10.

If found guilty, she faces the death penalty. - CNA/nd

 

U

Untouchables

Alfrescian (Inf)

Asset

• Apr 11, 2014

• #3

Updated: 04/10/2014 13:09 | By Channel NewsAsia

Parents of maid who allegedly killed employer to arrive in S'pore

SINGAPORE: The parents of the Indonesian maid who allegedly murdered her employer are to come to Singapore to help with investigations.

The court heard that the psychiatrist needs to interview the parents of 23-year-old Dewi Sukowati, to complete the evaluation report.

Dewi is accused of causing the death of 69-year-old socialite Nancy Gan on the morning of 19 March this year at Victoria Park Road.

Ms Gan was found dead in her bungalow's pool.

She was said to have suffered head injuries.

The court was told by Dewi's lawyer, Mohamed Muzammil, that her parents are to arrive in Singapore later this month.

The lawyer also requested for Dewi's age to be verified, as she might be younger than stated.

Dewi has been remanded further to assist in investigations.

Her case will be heard again on 17 April.

If convicted of murdering her employer, Dewi faces the gallows. - CNA/xq

 

U

Untouchables

Alfrescian (Inf)

Asset

• Apr 18, 2014

• #4

Updated: 04/17/2014 13:41 | By Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia probes real age of maid accused of murdering employer

SINGAPORE: Indonesian authorities have launched an investigation to determine if the Indonesian maid accused of murdering a socialite is younger than stated in documents.

Dewi Sukowati is accused of causing the death of her employer, 69-year-old Nancy Gan, on the morning of 19 March this year at Victoria Park Road.

Ms Gan was found dead in her bungalow's pool. She was said to have suffered head injuries.

On Thursday, defence lawyer Mohamed Muzammil told the media that an Indonesian MP from Dewi's hometown said they are investigating those responsible for falsifying Dewi's age.

He added that while it is not known how old Dewi is, she is not 23 years old as stated in court documents.

Previously, the court heard the defence's request to verify Dewi's age.

Under the law, Dewi has to be at least 23 years old to be employed as a helper in Singapore.

If she is found to be below the age of 18 at the time of the offence, Dewi will escape the death penalty if convicted.

It also heard that the psychiatrist needs to interview the parents of Dewi to complete the evaluation report.

Mr Mohamed Muzammil said on Thursday that the Indonesian embassy had arranged for Dewi's father to come to Singapore to assist the psychiatrist.

Dewi’s father was in Singapore for four days and had left on Wednesday.

This case will be heard again on 15 May. - CNA/xq

 

CaptainNeeda

Alfrescian

Loyal

• Apr 22, 2015

• #5

Maid accused of killing employer Nancy Gan faces reduced culpable homicide charge

Published on Apr 21, 2015 10:22 AM

Indonesian maid Dewi Sukowati, wearing a red polo T-shirt, in a police car on March 20, 2014. She was originally charged with murdering her employer Nancy Gan Wan Geok, but now faces a reduced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

Ms Nancy Gan, a socialite and philanthropist, was found dead in the swimming pool of her upscale Bukit Timah bungalow on the morning of March 19, 2014. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

By Elena Chong

SINGAPORE - The Indonesian maid who was originally charged with murdering her employer Nancy Gan Wan Geok now faces a reduced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Dewi Sukowati, whose age was given as 23, is said, in the amended charge, to have hit the head of the 69-year-old socialite and philanthropist against a wall and the floor kerb, and then pushing her into a swimming pool. The acts were done with the intention of causing bodily injuries as was likely to cause death.

Ms Gan was found in pyjamas and had head injuries.

The alleged incident took place at a bungalow at Victoria Park Road in Bukit Timah between 7.30am and 8.46am on March 19 last year.

No plea was taken from Dewi on Tuesday.

Her lawyer, Mr Mohamed Muzammil Mohamed, said he would be making representations and meeting his client's family in a village in Indonesia.

Dewi received her work permit on March 12 last year and worked for Ms Gan for barely a week before the latter was found dead at home.

Ms Gan, a mother of two, was formerly married to former Hong Kong Legislative Council politician Hilton Cheong-leen.

She was a classically trained pianist and a porcelain painter who regularly donated her works to raise funds for charity. Her works include orchids, landscapes, fish, birds, flowers and animals on fine porcelain and bone china.

Ms Gan, over the years, appeared in upmarket magazines such as The Peak Singapore, counting among her friends ambassadors and their wives.

According to a website named after her, nancygan.com, Ms Gan was involved in fundraising efforts for the Bone Marrow Donor Programme, the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped and Singapore Cancer Society.

Dewi's case will be mentioned again on June 23.

If convicted, she could be jailed for life, or face a jail term which may extend to 20 years and liable to fine. Although caning is provided, women and men aged above 50 cannot be caned.

 

blackmondy

Alfrescian (Inf)

Asset

• Apr 22, 2015

• #6

This kind of arty-farty people are usually extremely ill-tempered as they are perfectionists by nature and easily irritated. The maid must have been abused to the point she reciprocated bloodily.