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The prosecution is asking for the maximum S$5,000 fine for Karl Liew, 45, who admitted to lying during Parti Liyani's trial.

Parti, now 49, was Liew's domestic worker.

He claimed she had stolen his family's belongings, and Parti was charged with theft offences.

The lie during the trial was intended to cause the judge to convict Parti of stealing two pieces of clothing that did not belong to him.

Liew, son of former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong, pleaded guilty to one charge of giving false information to a public servant intending to cause harm to another.

Another charge of furnishing false information to a police officer was taken into consideration.

In that charge, he lied that he found "119 pieces of clothing" belonging to him in boxes packed by Parti.

What happened during the trial?

Parti worked for Liew and his family between 2007 and 2016.

The Indonesian was asked in March 2016 to do chores at Liew's home and to clean his office.

She was unhappy about being made to do extra work at another location.

The Liew family terminated her employment in October 2016.

She was given two hours to pack her belongings into three boxes.

She had asked Liew to pay for the boxes to be shipped to her.

The Liew family opened the boxes the day after she left.

A police report was made, claiming that some of the items she had packed in the boxes belonged to the family.

Parti returned to Singapore in December 2016 to find work and was arrested.

In August 2017, Parti was charged with five offences, and one of the charges alleged that she had stolen various items that belonged to Liew.

The total value of these stolen items in the charge amounted to S$46,856.

Out of these items were 120 pieces of clothing that were said to be valued at S$150 each, including a cream polo t-shirt and a red blouse.

On Jul. 17, 2018, Parti's counsel, Anil Balchandani, cross-examined Liew on the two items.

Anil first asked if Liew recognised the polo t-shirt.

When Liew claimed he did, Anil asked if he knew what the logo "VJ" on the shirt meant.

Liew answered that he didn't recognise the brand.

Anil responded, " Good. This is a lady's cream polo t-shirt."

However, when Anil asked if Liew agreed that the shirt belonged to Parti, he disagreed twice.

Anil then pointed out to Liew that he would not fit the shirt, but he disagreed.

Later during the trial, after Liew confirmed that the red blouse belonged to him, Anil took it out and showed the court.

"This is a lady's blouse," Anil said. "Do you agree or disagree?"

Liew agreed but claimed he didn't know if it belonged to Parti.

Ultimately, the District Judge removed five articles of clothing, including the cream polo t-shirt and the red blouse, from the charge.

The District Judge then convicted Parti on four counts of theft and for stealing more than S$30,000 worth of items from the Liews.

She was sentenced in 2019 to two years and two months in jail.

She was subsequently acquitted in September 2020.

Seeking S$5,000 fine

Both the prosecution and defence sought the maximum fine of S$5,000.

The prosecution stated that Liew was aware of the harm to Parti that could have "ostensibly ensued" from the lie: "Whether he believed that Ms Parti had stolen the items particularised in the other charges against her does not excuse or mitigate his conduct."

However, they were aware that Liew has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three weeks before testifying in Parti's trial and the effects of a custodial sentence on him.

The prosecution also said there was no evidence of malice or premeditation, and the accused did not take any active or sophisticated steps to bolster his lies in court.

The judge adjourned the sentencing to Apr. 14, 2023, as he required time to consider the case.

The maximum penalty that Liew can face for the charge is an imprisonment term of up to one year, or a maximum fine of S$5,000, or both.

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Top photos by Mothership/Hannah Martens