2 S'porean women, aged 49 & 50, charged with alleged abuse of their domestic helpers, including physical attacks & verbal threats

Two Singaporean women were charged in court on Oct. 19 for abusing their domestic helpers in separate cases.

Saloni Neeraj Samnani, 50, faces six charges involving two maids, while D G Carole Ann, 49, faces one charge involving one maid.

Saloni Neeraj Samnani

According to charge sheets, Samnani allegedly physically abused one helper on Jun. 24, 2023.

This included hitting her arm, kicking her legs, using a metal ladle to hit her shoulder blade and head, and using a broomstick to hit her legs.

As a result, the victim sustained a cut on her lips and bruises on her arms and legs.

In a separate incident that same month, Samnani is also accused of threatening to put chilli in the victim’s eyes and turn off the water pipes so that she would not be able to wash her eyes.

Samnani also allegedly called her an "anjing", which translates to dog in Malay, and threatened to force her to eat pork and tell her family.

According to charge sheets, she also said, " I swear I make you eat pork one day … you are not Muslim … In the food I put pork. You see … I will tell your family you eat babi (pig) also."

Another domestic helper allegedly suffered abuse

Another domestic helper also allegedly suffered abuse under Samnani between September and December 2023.

Sometime during these months, Samnani allegedly used vulgarities against the second victim, like "b*stard" and "ugly, rotten, full of sh*t inside".

She also threatened to turn her phone off, preventing her from contacting her family.

Samnani said that, "You will see what happens to your family. And you will not know because your handphone will be off. You will not know anything. That’s my promise."

On Dec. 14, 2023, Samnani allegedly used a metal spoon to hit the second victim's forehead, causing a 2cm by 2cm contusion.

She also allegedly poured water on her head in a separate incident.

Samnani faces four counts of violating the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) and two counts of voluntarily causing hurt.

D G Carole Ann

Carole Ann, meanwhile, is accused of physically abusing one domestic helper on Apr. 8, 2025.

She allegedly punched the victim once on the cheek, causing her to suffer from cheek pain and a headache.

Both cases were adjourned and will be heard again on Nov. 10.

For voluntarily causing hurt, an offender can be jailed up to three years, or fined up to S$5,000, or both.

Under section 73(1) of the Penal Code 1871, the court may double the maximum penalty for an employer convicted of an offence against a domestic helper for voluntarily causing hurt.

Under POHA, for intentionally causing harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation, an offender can be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed up to six months or both.