AGC says further action warranted in case where ex-maid is acquitted of stealing from CAG chief
(From left) Ms Parti Liyani, Mr Liew Mun Leong and Mr Liew's son Karl Liew.PHOTOS: ST FILE
Dominic Low
SINGAPORE - The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) will study the High Court judgement by Justice Chan Seng Onn following the acquittal of a former domestic worker of stealing from Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong and his family.
This is to assess what further action, if any, ought to be taken in this case, the AGC said in a statement on Sunday (Sept 6).
In arriving at his decision, one of Justice Chan's findings was that there was reason to believe that the Liew family took the pre-emptive step to terminate the maid's employment suddenly and without giving her sufficient time to pack, in the hope that she would not use the time to make a complaint to the Ministry of Manpower about her illegal deployment to work for Mr Liew's son Karl, it said.
He found that when she had threatened to complain to MOM after her sudden termination, the senior Mr Liew and Mr Karl Liew lodged the police report to prevent her return to Singapore to lodge a complaint with the ministry.
He also disbelieved the evidence of several members of the Liew family on various issues, it added.
AGC will study the judgment to assess what further action, if any, ought to be taken in this case, in light of Justice Chan's comments, said the AGC.
"His findings do raise questions which warrant further investigations."
Miss Parti Liyani, 46, was accused of stealing from over $34,000 worth of items from the Liew family while working for them.
After a trial, she was found guilty on four counts of theft and sentenced to two years and two months' jail in March last year.
She later appealed to the High Court against her conviction and sentence, and was acquitted on Friday.
Miss Parti's lawyer Anil Balchandani earlier said that he would be making an application for compensation from the Liew family that will be tied largely to four years of her pay, which was $600 a month.
"Whatever the amount we get, I think we will be necessarily grateful for," he said.