S'pore domestic worker allegedly hits & shakes woman in 70s with stroke, smiles when arrested by police

Satisfied with her domestic worker's work ethic, a woman in Singapore was shocked to find out that the worker had been allegedly abusing her mother.

The employer, surnamed Wang (transliteration from Chinese), lives in Hougang.

She lives with her mother, who is in her 70s and in poor health after suffering a stroke.

Initial signs of abuse

Wang's family first discovered the alleged abuse in January 2024.

The 25-year-old worker had gotten impatient when Wang's mother drank milk too slowly.

She allegedly hit the woman's arm.

Speaking with Shin Min Daily News, Wang said that when her mother had turned to look at the helper blankly, the helper shook her body.

Back then, Wang thought that a verbal warning would be enough to correct the helper's behaviour.

That was before bruises and scars started appearing on her mother's body.

The domestic worker's most recent act was caught live on a CCTV camera.

Caught on camera abusing employer's mother

On the evening of Sep. 23, Wang's family was having dinner in the living room.

Meanwhile, the domestic worker was in another room feeding milk to Wang's mother.

When Wang checked on her mother via a mobile app linked to the CCTV camera, she was appalled to witness the scene unfolding before her eyes.

According to Wang, her mother swallowed slowly, which made the helper impatient.

The helper allegedly continued forcing the milk down her mother's throat and pressed her head into the bed.

The family rushed into the room and shouted at the helper to stop.

She allegedly told them she had gotten physical because the elderly woman refused to drink the milk.

Did not stop after warning

The worker was once again let off with a warning.

But she did not cease her abuse, Wang told Shin Min.

The second episode of alleged abuse saw the worker grabbing the elderly woman's body and shaking it vigorously.

She then pushed her head onto the bed again, said Wang.

This was when the family decided to call the police.

"We never thought she'd do something like this"

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they were alerted to the incident on Sep. 23 at about 11:30pm.

They later arrived at the house and arrested the helper.

Police investigations are ongoing.

"While waiting for the police to arrive, [the helper] abused my mother again. She hit an elderly woman at least three times in one night. This is unforgivable," said Wang, adding:

"We treated her very well. We didn't expect her to do something like hurt an elderly person who suffered a stroke."

"She was even smiling when the police arrived."

Top images via Shin Min Daily News