S'pore employer, 42, molested domestic worker, 26, twice, sentenced to 9 weeks' jail

A domestic worker in Singapore was reported to her maid agency by her female employer for her habit of borrowing money and being distracted at work.

The agency later discovered that the 26-year-old worker was molested twice by her male employer.

The man, 42, has since pleaded guilty to two counts of outrage of modesty on Jul. 7, Shin Min Daily News reported.

He was sentenced to nine weeks' jail and ordered by the court to pay the victim S$70 in restitution.

Touched her from behind

The victim, who is from Indonesia, first began working for the couple on May 25, 2023, earning a monthly salary of S$620.

In November 2023, while his wife was away and the victim was busy in the kitchen, the man reportedly patted her from behind.

In January 2024, the man again patted her buttocks as he passed by when no one was home.

The victim later confided in her husband and a friend via WhatsApp.

This friend later said that she noticed the victim was depressed and expressed a desire to run away from her employer's home, it was reported.

Reported to agency for being distracted

In March 2024, the female employer notified the agency because the victim was borrowing money and not paying attention at work.

When an intermediary visited their home on Mar. 20 to investigate, he discovered that the victim was gambling online on her phone.

She later admitted that she had borrowed money to gamble.

When prompted further, she revealed that the man had molested her.

The agency then privately verified this with the man, who admitted to the wrongdoing and ultimately apologised to the victim in the presence of the agency and his wife.

The victim reportedly had borrowed S$1,000 from the man due to a family emergency and did not dare to report the molest to the police.

She was also afraid that her female employer would reprimand her.

Arrest

It was not until May 23, 2024, more than one-and-a-half years after the first incident, that the case was eventually reported to the police.

The victim was invited to a domestic helper centre for an interview, where she revealed to the staff that she had been touched inappropriately by her male employer.

The staff immediately called the police.

The man was arrested on Apr. 17, 2025.

He reportedly paid S$500 in compensation to the victim on May 22, 2026.