A 42-year-old Singaporean woman, Ummi Kalsum Ali, received two additional charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, for failing to provide her maid with a mattress, and failing to providing adequate food on multiple occasions, resulting in weight loss.
She is now currently facing 16 charges for allegedly hurting her maid, 49-year-old Sugiyem Samad Radimah.
She had been previously charged with two counts of voluntarily causing hurt, one of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means, and one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt on Apr. 28.
Punched maid's eyes and press a heated iron on her arm
Ummi had allegedly hit Sugiyem's eyes with her fist and struck her with objects such as clothes hangers.
This allegedly caused permanent damage to Sugiyem's eyesight.
Ummi is also accused of pressing a heated iron on Sugiyem's forearm, and slapping her on her face and ears.
Paid her salary late and neglected her health
Ummi had also been facing 10 other charges for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act against her former migrant domestic worker.
According to an Apr. 28 press release by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the 10 charges against Ummi include failure to pay Sugiyem's salary and ill-treatment by neglect.
On October 28, 2020, MOM was alerted to the case by the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE).
Investigation by MOM revealed that Ummi did not pay Sugiyem's salary on time from January to October 2020.
Ummi also failed to provide Sugiyem with timely and adequate medical attention after Sugiyem made multiple requests to Ummi to see a doctor.
Ummi will return to court on August 3.
Possible punishments
For each charge of failing to pay Sugiyem's salary, Ummi can be jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
If found guilty of ill-treatment by neglect, Ummi can be jailed for up to 24 months, fined up to S$20,000, or both.
She will also be barred from employing a migrant domestic worker in the future.
Helplines for migrant domestic workers
Migrant domestic workers who need assistance can call the MOM helpline at 1800 339 5505, or CDE at 1800 2255 233.
In addition, anyone with information on suspected offences involving migrant domestic workers can report the matter to MOM at mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg or call 6438 5122.
MOM added in its press release that it takes the safety and well-being of all migrant domestic workers seriously and is committed to introducing new safeguards to better protect them against potential abuse.
Top photos by Syahindah Ishak