SINGAPORE - A Singaporean
couple is on trial for allegedly starving their Filipina domestic helper. She
weighed just 29kg when she escaped from their Orchard Road condominium in April
2014.
Lim Choon Hong and wife Chong Sui Foon, both 47, face one
charge each under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, which states that
employers are responsible for the "maintenance" of their foreign
employee, including proving them with adequate food.
Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40, had worked for the couple for
almost 1.5 years before she escaped and sought refuge at HOME, a non-profit organization that 
assists migrant workers, including domestic helpers.
assists migrant workers, including domestic helpers.
Ms Thelma lost 20kg whilst working for Lim and Chong. She
told HOME of only being given instant noodles to eat twice a day for over a
year. On some occasions, she was given bread.
- Chong also only allowed her to shower once or twice a week, keeping tabs on Ms Thelma to make sure she did not use any hot water, despite forcing her to shower in the condominium's public toilet, Ms Christina Quek, the investigation officer in charge of the case, told the court.
- HOME reported Ms Thelma's conditions to the Ministry of Manpower, who directed the NGO to send Ms Thelma for a medical check up.
In court on Monday (Dec 14), Dr Lim Huiyu, senior resident
at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's department of gastroenterology and hepatology who
examined Ms Thelma in April this year, testified that she suffered
"significant weight loss due to insufficient intake of food".
This conclusion was arrived at after ruling out medical or
organic causes.
So malnourished was Ms Thelma that she did not have her period for a year, the doctor said.
So malnourished was Ms Thelma that she did not have her period for a year, the doctor said.
Source: Channel Asia...More...
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