Unless you've been off social media these few days (like avoiding Facebook for Star Wars spoilers) you would have read something about a trial involving a couple (Lim Choon Hong and his wife Chong Sui Foon, both 47) and their maid, Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40, who went from 49kg to 29kg in the 15 months under their employment.

What caught the attention of those following the case -- aside from the fact that the maid lost nearly half her weight under the employment of the couple -- was that Ms Thelma alleged that she was only fed instant noodles and bread; and that she was not allowed to use the toilet in her employer's condominium home - she had to take showers and use the toilet at the public toilet in the condominium.

"She didn't complain"

Now, Lim has given his side of the story in court which was reported by Channel NewsAsia and The Straits Times. He said that he 'never restricted her (Ms Thelma) from anything' and while he noticed her weight loss, he "didn't read too much into it" because "she didn't tell me anything", and that Ms Thelma "didn't complain."

He said, "She didn't complain. I would expect her to tell me if she was feeling unwell, but she did not."

He shared that "where food is concerned, my wife likes to be in charge" and left matters with his wife Chong.

His wife's mental issues

He told the court about his wife's mental illnesses - anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This in turn is why Chong treats cleanliness "like a religion" according to Lim. Lim also said that Chong is "particular about what she eats."

Lim said the couple led a busy life and usually eat two meals a day, sometimes only one, and this was the same frequency in which the maid was fed.

On Chong's OCD tendencies, Lim said snacks were not allowed at home and no cooking was allowed in the kitchen because of Chong's obsession with wanting to keep things clean to her standards. The same applied to keeping bedrooms clean and hence why the family lived mostly in the living room.

Lim also claimed that Chong required the bathrooms to be cleaned every time it was used, which was why, Ms Thelma, and Lim as well, used the public toilet in the condominium instead.

Lim also shared that due to his wife's tendencies, his child ran away from home in 2010 and has not return since. The couple now live with three other children and their eldest child is 21.

On barring Ms Thelma from talking to others

On Ms Thelma's allegation that the couple barred her from contacting anyone, Lim claimed he never restricted her from anything.

Ms Thelma alleged that she was "caught" trying to seek help from a neighbour’s Indonesian maid by "making a hand gesture about my stomach" to signal hunger, and Chong told her she was not allowed to talk to anyone.

On this point, Lim said it was in fact the neighbour who requested that the maids not talk to each other.

Ms Thelma said she had a mobile phone but could not use it as it was locked in her suitcase which was kept by the couple. Lim claims that he did not know that Ms Thelma had a mobile phone.

The trial will continue with its second tranche of hearings to be decided on Dec. 30.

If found guilty, Lim and Chong faces up to 12 months in jail, or a fine up to S$10,000, or both.

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