Maid jailed for theft, assault
Posted: 14 September 2011 1850 hrs
SINGAPORE : A 24-year-old Indonesian maid was on Wednesday jailed for stealing from her employer and sister, and assaulting their elderly mother who has dementia.
Jariyah was jailed for three months and two weeks.
She faced 14 charges in all and pleaded guilty to six counts of assault and theft.
Jariyah had hit Madam Cheng Chu Ha, 80, on three separate occasions in a flat at Block 508 Woodlands Drive 14 in June.
Madam Cheng suffered injuries, including bruises to her left arm and right shoulder blade.
The court heard that Jariyah assaulted her as she felt Madam Cheng was making her job difficult.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Grace Lim said Jariyah slapped the elderly woman's head once on June 27.
Two days later, she used a magazine to hit Madam Cheng's back.
These attacks were captured by a closed-circuit television camera inside the flat.
Madam Cheng's son, Chong Chee Ming, 45, had installed the device as he suspected the maid had hit his mother.
Jariyah, who had been working for his sister, Julie Chong Lye Kuin, 46, since September 2010, also admitted she had stolen from the family.
She had helped herself to more than S$400 worth of items, including cash, a pair of pearl earrings and two rings between January and June this year.
Only about S$150 worth of stolen items was recovered.
- CNA/ms
