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Domestic worker, 40, caught on CCTV hitting & strangling granny, 90, S'pore police investigating
The grandmother pleaded with her to stop but to no avail.
Khine Zin Htet
January 21, 2025, 01:39 PM
When her grandfather suffered a fall and had to go to the hospital for swelling and pain in his left foot, Fiona and her family checked their home CCTV camera to determine the cause.
What they discovered was horrifying: Their foreign domestic worker was not only seen screaming at the elderly man for falling again, but also assaulting their grandmother by strangling and hitting her.
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Speaking to Mothership, Fiona recounted that the family made the chilling discovery close to midnight on Jan. 3, after her grandfather mentioned his fall.
They immediately contacted the police the following morning, and the helper was subsequently arrested.
What happened
The 40-year-old helper, a Myanmar national, had been caring for the grandparents since October 2024 in their flat at Henderson Crescent.
The rest of the family did not live with the elderly couple, but Fiona's mother and uncle visited almost daily.
CCTV footage at around 10pm on Jan. 3 revealed the 91-year-old grandfather crying out as he appeared to fall off-camera.
This was his second fall that day after falling earlier on the same day at around 3pm.
The helper emerged, scolded him, and did not assist him.
Instead, she went into another room, dragged Fiona's 90-year-old grandmother out by her arms, and threw her to the ground, while gesturing at the fallen man.
The footage showed the helper covering the grandmother’s mouth, shaking her, strangling her, and even throwing her onto the sofa.
When the grandmother, who weighs around 35kg, tried to move toward her walker, the helper slapped her and pushed her to the floor.
Throughout the ordeal, the grandmother could be heard pleading, "No", crying out in pain and at one point, saying, "I will die."
The eight-minute video did not show the helper assisting either grandparent.
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Investigations ongoing
The family reported the incident to the police on Jan. 4.
Although the helper was arrested that same day at the flat, she is currently at her agency, with her passport confiscated by the authorities.
"During the arrest, she feigned innocence and even asked my mum for help," Fiona said.
In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
Toe injury may require amputation
Both grandparents were examined at the hospital.
The grandmother was found to have bruises and scratches on her jaw, neck, and limbs.
The grandfather’s injury was more severe — his untreated and prolonged toe injury, worsened by diabetes, might require amputation.
He is currently still in the hospital and may be spending the Chinese New Year there, Fiona said.
The family is investigating whether there were previous incidents of abuse as well.
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Another footage from earlier in the day on Jan. 3 also showed the helper screaming and putting her hands on the grandmother.
Shocked and betrayed
Fiona, who shares a close bond with her grandparents, admitted she could not bear to watch the full footage, fearing how it would affect her emotionally.
She expressed shock and betrayal, noting that the family had treated the helper with kindness, allowing her flexibility in her routine, including unrestricted phone use and naps.
The helper’s primary duties were caring for the grandparents and cooking for them.
In December, Fiona's grandfather had told her uncle that they needed to change the helper.
However, when Fiona's mother asked the helper if she wanted to work elsewhere, she allegedly replied, “No, I’m very happy to look after Ah Ma.”
