Foreign domestic worker jailed 11 weeks for abusing elderly woman with dementia

A 34 year old Indonesian domestic worker, Maria Inggrid Seran, was sentenced to 11 weeks in jail on Friday, September 4, for voluntarily causing hurt to a vulnerable 69 year old woman in her care. The victim suffered from multiple medical conditions, including Alzheimer's dementia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, and was non communicative and fully dependent on Seran for daily activities.

On the morning of April 20, Seran became angry after the victim became frustrated during breakfast. CCTV footage installed by the victim's children captured Seran slapping the woman twice on the face and once on the head. Seran also hit the woman's legs and feet, pinched her nose, and twisted her finger. The victim's son called the police that evening after receiving a video of the assault, leading to Seran's arrest.

During court proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jun Kai noted that Seran had assaulted the victim on previous occasions to stop her from nagging, claiming this would make the victim keep quiet out of fear. While medical checks did not reveal permanent injuries, the victim experienced pain in her head, face, legs, hands, and nose.

District Judge Lim Wee Meng cited the need for deterrence in domestic violence cases and the victim's vulnerability when delivering the sentence. Seran, who was unrepresented, had asked for a lighter sentence through a court interpreter. Under Singapore law, voluntarily causing hurt can carry a jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to S$5,000, with penalties potentially doubling if the victim is a vulnerable person.