Mediacorpse staff hit maid for eating biscuits

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Feb 1, 2010

Maid hit for eating biscuits

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent

Annie Tan, an assistant vice-president for sales, is said to have grabbed the head of her Filipino maid and banged it against the wall three times. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

A MEDIACORP executive allegedly hurt her maid for eating biscuits, a district court heard on Monday. Annie Tan, an assistant vice-president for sales, is said to have grabbed the head of her Filipino maid and banged it against the wall three times. The 39-year-old woman also denied three other charges of slapping Ms Vilma Lambino Manuel, 37, on her face and causing her nose to bleed; grabbing her on her right arm; and kicking her on the left leg. The alleged incidents took place at her Bishan home on Sept 18, 2008 - 18 days after the Filipina began working for her.

Ms Manuel, who works elsewhere now, told the court that her employer came home in the early hours on Sept 18, 2008 and asked if she had done all her work. Tan also asked who ate the biscuits. When Ms Vilma said she ate some, Tan hit her head on the wall three times and slapped her on the face. A few minutes later, she took the can of biscuits and threw it at her. If convicted, Tan faces a jail term of up to three years or a fine of up to $7,500 on each charge.

 

[jw5]

I know how unpleasant some maids can be, but to hit and hurt someone for eating biscuits?
This is extremely appalling.

 

[Shin Orochi]

Employer recounts times when maid was hysterical


Employer recounts times when maid was hysterical
By Shaffiq Alkhatib, TODAY | Posted: 04 February 2010 0722 hrs
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SINGAPORE: A Filipino maid who was allegedly abused by a MediaCorp executive was "homesick" and there were times when she was unable to focus on her work, a district court heard on Wednesday.

Annie Tan, who is an Assistant Vice-President of Sales at MediaCorp, told the court that, on one occasion, she heard Ms Vilma Lambino Manuel crying and screaming loudly when Tan phoned home to speak to her eight-year-old daughter on 10 September 2008. Tan added that Ms Manuel, 37, sounded "hysterical" in the background.

The 39-year-old Tan has been charged with four counts of maid abuse. When cross-examined by Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Lee, Tan said there were also times when she caught Ms Manuel looking "spaced out" and was not concentrating on her work.

She then asked Ms Manuel's agent, Mr See Chwee Hock, who is the manager of VGA Employment Agency, to counsel the maid. Tan, who is represented by Mr Gurdaib Singh, said she suspected Ms Manuel had stolen money from her on three separate occasions.

But Tan said she decided to let the maid off with a "gentle warning" since she had no evidence. According to Tan, the maid gave no indication that she was unhappy. However, on September 18 that year, Ms Manuel ran away from Tan's flat in Bishan and accused her former employer of abusing her.

Ms Manuel, who is working elsewhere now, alleged in court on Monday that Tan had once grabbed her head and hit it three times against a wall. Other alleged abuses included slapping Ms Manuel on her face, causing her nose to bleed.

If convicted, Tan - who has denied all the charges - could be jailed for up to three years and fined a maximum of S$7,500 for each charge. The pre-trial conference for this case will be held on February 26.

- TODAY/sc

 

[Zhou Yü]

Exec cleared of maid abuse


Sep 20, 2010
Exec cleared of maid abuse

By Elena Chong

Annie Tan, 39 yrs-old was aquitted for grabbing the maid Vilma Lambino Manuel on her head banging it against the wall three times and slapping her face cause her nose to bleed. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

A MEDIACORP executive was cleared of four maid abuse charges on Monday after a trial. Ms Annie Tan, 40, was acquitted of four charges of causing hurt to her then Filipino maid, Ms Vilma Lambino Manuel, 38, at her Bishan home on Sept 18, 2008. She was accused of grabbing and banging the head of the domestic worker against the wall three times in the wee hours that day.

She had also allegedly caused her nose to bleed; grabbed her on the forearm and kicked her on the left leg. In acquitting her, District Judge Wong Choon Ning found the maid's evidence not credible. She also found the maid's account not entirely consistent with the medical evidence.