Teacher And Husband Face Abuse Charges For Throwing Hot Ladle, Hanger At Maid

A primary school teacher in Singapore allegedly hit her domestic help with a hot ladle just 11 days after the woman started working for her family, a court heard on Monday.

The teacher, Nachammai Nachiappan, 39, and her husband Arunachalam Muthiah, 41, appeared in court for their joint trial Monday after they were charged with multiple counts of abuse.

The Indian origin couple allegedly abused 37-year-old Hla Myaing from Myanmar who worked as their domestic help over a period between June 25, 2018 and Aug. 2, 2018, The Straits Times reported.

Nachiappan was charged with five counts of multiple acts of abuse, including hitting Myaing’s face with a clothes hanger and throwing a hot ladle at her. The alleged abuse began just 11 days after Myaing joined work at the couple’s household. Muthiah is accused of kicking the maid and punching her.

Myaing testified in court that she was forced to work for around 19 hours from 4:30 a.m. till 11:30 p.m. every day, reported UPC News.

In one instance, Nachiappan got furious at Myaing and allegedly threw a hot ladle that struck the victim’s right hand, the court heard. “She was expecting me to cook (but) I don't know how to cook Indian food,” Myaing told the court Monday with the help of an interpreter.

The couple reportedly took Myaing to the maid agency and complained that they were “not satisfied” with her. “I also didn't want to work for them,” Myaing added.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) told the outlet that it will review the case against Nachiappan. “MOE takes a serious view of staff misconduct and will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against those who fail to adhere to our standards of conduct and discipline, including dismissal from service,” the agency said.

If convicted, Nachiappan could face sentencing of up to 10 ½ years in jail and fines for using an instrument to assault the maid.

In a similar incident last month, a woman in Singapore was charged for repeatedly abusing her domestic help with a hot iron and punching her eyes, causing permanent damage to her sight. Ummi Ali, 42, was charged for allegedly assaulting Sugiyem Radimah, 49, from Indonesia, who worked as her domestic help. Ali reportedly abused Radimah on multiple occasions between February and October 2020.e