Woman faces 7 counts of abuse

[Xing Cai]

Oct 7, 2010
Woman faces 7 counts of abuse

By Elena Chong

A HOUSEWIFE was charged in court on Thursday with seven counts of maid abuse. Koh Bee Choo, 40, is alleged to have slapped Filipina Catalina Galvez Calibayan, 33, a few times at her Tampines Street 71 flat on June 30 last year. She allegedly kicked her on the knee on July 24 the same year, and on July 25, assaulted her five times between noon and 2.30pm. She is said to have, among other things, grabbed and twisted the domestic worker's breasts and forearm, hitting her with a plastic container and stomping on her foot. Koh, who was represented by Mr Tan Kay Bin, will return to court on Nov 4. If convicted, she faces a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to $7,500 on each charge.

 

[Zhen Ji]

Jan 18, 2011

Maid abuser jailed for 3 months

By Elena Chong

A HOUSEWIFE who assaulted her Filipino maid seven times over a three-week period was jailed for 12 weeks on Tuesday.

Koh Bee Choo, 40, had pleaded guilty earlier to four counts of hurting Ms Catalina Galvez Calibayan, 33, at her flat in Tampines in July 2009.

The court heard that Ms Calibayan was ironing clothes when Koh asked why she had placed a container for drying at the edge of the kitchen table on July 24, 2009.

Koh then kicked the maid on the left knee from the back, saying she was not standing straight.

The next day, Koh scolded her for leaving her five-year-old child unattended in the toilet, grabbed and twisted her breasts.

After releasing her grip, Koh went on to grab the Filipina's right arm and twisted it several times.

About 2 1/2 hours later, Koh used a plastic container to hit Ms Calibayan on the face for placing a pail in the centre of the kitchen toilet.

Koh, who was found to be suffering from depression, could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to $7,500 on each proceeded charge.

 

[Admiral Piett]

Jan 19, 2011

2 punished for abusing their maids

By Elena Chong

Koh Bee Choo was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail for having assaulted her maid seven times over a three-week period. ST PHOTO: ZAO BAO

ONE woman was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail while another was fined $6,000, in two cases of maid abuse.

In the case of Koh Bee Choo, the 40-year-old housewife had assaulted her maid, Ms Catalina Galvez Calibayan, 33, seven times over a three-week period in 2009.

The incidents were at her home in Tampines over work matters.
Koh kicked the maid for placing a container at the edge of a kitchen table on July 24 that year.

The next day, she scolded the maid for leaving her five-year-old child unattended in the toilet.

When Ms Calibayan came out of the toilet, Koh grabbed her breasts, causing pain to the victim, who told her to let go.

After releasing her grip, Koh grabbed the maid's right arm and twisted it several times.

That afternoon, she used a plastic container to hit the victim's face several times.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.