Maid who pushed employer, 92, and fractured his spine jailed 1 year, 10 months

SINGAPORE — During a dispute over the purchase of bread, a domestic helper slapped her 92-year-old employer and later pushed him to the ground.

As a result, the elderly man, Neo Ah Kow, fractured his spine and has since been unable to walk properly.

Myanmar national Than Nwe, 33, was jailed for 22 months on Tuesday (24 March) after she pleaded guilty to one count of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Neo, who is retired.

The maid was hired in March last year to care for Neo’s bedridden wife. She was tasked to help Neo with his shopping as well due to his old age.

On 28 June last year, at about 9.15am, Than and Neo got into an argument In the living room over the buying of bread. The wife was sleeping in a bed in the same room.

Than told Neo that she would return to Myanmar, but Neo replied that he was not afraid and would send her back. Infuriated, Than shouted and Neo told her to come over.

CCTV footage captured the argument, with Than seen approaching Neo and slapping him. Neo managed to block the slap partially but had to balance himself against a table behind him. Than then went to sit down.

Offended, Neo cried, “You dare to beat ‘ah gong’?!” and raised his hands to a boxing position. He tottered towards Than and the two began scuffling after Than initially walked away.

Than then pushed Neo forcefully, causing him to fall backwards. He hit a wooden shelf, which stood behind him. Than pressed an emergency bell placed in the house and spoke to an operator, who called for an ambulance.

Neo was conveyed to Changi General Hospital where he was found with a fracture in his spine. He underwent surgery the next day. Neo stayed at the hospital until 2 September last year, when he was transferred to a community hospital for rehabilitation until 5 October last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sunil Nair sought at least 24 months’ jail for Than. “(The victim is) obviously a vulnerable victim, his wife was completely bedridden and regardless of how angry the accused may have been she should have been mindful of the victim’s age.”

The DPP noted, however, that Neo had been aggressive and approached Than after he was unhappy.

In mitigation, the maid, who was unrepresented, said through an interpreter that she was remorseful.

Commenting on the case, District Judge Marvin Bay said, “The footage shows that after your initial slap, the victim had been agitated and confronted you, but it was always free for you to disengage from the scene given the great imbalance in age and strength.”

While the judge accepted that the act was not deeply premeditated, he said that the push was “certainly deliberate” and “extremely forceful”, hence the maid could have anticipated that she would cause him to fall and suffer “catastrophic injuries”.

For voluntarily causing grievous hurt, the maid could have been jailed up to 10 years, and fined. She cannot be caned as she is a woman.

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