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Singapore woman fined S$13,000 for leaving Indonesian helper stranded in Batam

A woman was fined S$13,000 for abandoning her Indonesian domestic helper in Batam after falsely promising a trip home to Surabaya. The incident followed a breakfast disagreement. The employer, Hong Xuanyu, admitted to violating the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. The helper’s mistreatment sparked significant netizen outrage.

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1 year ago

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SINGAPORE: A woman was fined S$13,000 on 25 August for leaving her Indonesian domestic helper stranded in Batam in 2018.

The abandonment happened after she dishonestly told the helper she would arrange her trip back home to Surabaya.

Supposedly, the cause for this was the alleged failure of the helper, Islahatul Alif, to make breakfast on one particular morning.

As per a report from Lianhe Zaobao, a Chinese-language news outlet in Singapore, the employer Hong Xuanyu, who owns a hawker stall, received a fine upon admitting guilt to two violations of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

The Indonesian helper began her employment with Hong between 4 February and 28 April 2018. From February to March of that year, Islahatul was instructed to work at Hong’s fish soup stall at Jurong Point shopping mall.

This action went against the law, as helpers are restricted to performing household duties solely within their employer’s residence.

On the morning of 28 April, Hong was “angry” and took away the helper’s phone because she “did not prepare breakfast.”

Following this incident, Hong informed the helper that she would be sent on a 10-day trip back to her hometown in Surabaya through Batam. It’s worth noting that Batam is situated 1,300 km away from Surabaya.

At first, Islahatul hesitated due to concerns about losing her job, but Hong provided reassurance that she wouldn’t be replaced. The pair then boarded a ferry from the Singapore Cruise Centre to Batam.

During the trip, Hong gave back Islahatul’s phone, but subtracted the ferry ticket cost from her pay, leaving her with approximately S$350.

Upon reaching their destination, Hong directed the helper to take a taxi to the airport and return to Surabaya by air before abandoning her in Batam. No financial assistance was provided to cover the airfare or taxi fare.

Hong retained control of Islahatul’s work permit card and sought assistance from a friend to cancel the helper’s work permit on the same day.

Meanwhile, Islahatul experienced distress when she realized she was abandoned in Batam City without the ability to reach her family due to her phone’s depleted battery.

She was able to borrow a mobile phone from a taxi driver and contacted her employment agent in Singapore. The agent then organized for her to stay with a friend of a colleague in Batam before making her way back to Singapore.

After being notified by her agency, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) launched an investigation.

MOM prosecuting officer Teo Sijing told the court: “(Hong) failed in her duty as an employer to accord basic human dignity to her migrant domestic worker… and had treated her like chattel to be discarded when keeping her was more trouble than it was worth.”

Islahatul returned to Singapore on 2 May 2018, but court documents did not disclose her current location.

Netizen furious over employer’s mistreatment towards helper

As expected, netizens were not happy when they hear what had happened to Islahatul, and they showed their frustration and anger about how the helper was treated, stating that the employer faced too lenient consequences for her actions.

Certain users disagree with the penalty imposed on Hong, believing that the employer should be similarly “left stranded (in prison).”

“So no jail, probation or even house arrest?” questioned one user in disbelief.

Someone inquired about the whereabouts of Hong’s stall, mentioning that they would avoid being a customer there.

Another user praised the prompt response of the agent and commended their support for the mistreated helper.

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Crime

Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking

A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.

Published

7 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.

The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.

Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.

He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.

Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.

Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.

Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.

Links to Broader Drug Network

Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.

In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.

Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.

Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law

Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.

Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.

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Crime

Islamic firm CEO among 19 arrested in Malaysia’s charity home abuse scandal

The CEO of Islamic firm Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) and his wife were among 19 arrested by Malaysian authorities on Thursday for alleged child abuse linked to their charity homes. Last week, police rescued 402 children from these homes. Investigations revealed a horrifying network of abuse, with at least 13 children allegedly sodomised or taught to sexually assault others.

Published

11 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: In a major crackdown, Malaysian police have arrested several members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) top management, including CEO Nasiruddin Ali and his wife.

The arrests were made in a special operation conducted by Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department at multiple locations.

As of 19 September, total of 19 people were detained, including the CEO’s two children and the child of former Al-Arqam leader Ashaari Muhammad.

Among those arrested are 12 men and seven women, aged between 30 and 65.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed the arrests and promised to provide updates soon.

The arrests come on the heels of a significant child sexual abuse scandal involving GISBH.

Last week, police rescued 402 children from 20 welfare homes linked to the organization in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

They also arrested 171 people, including an ustaz and a hostel warden.

The case sent shockwaves throughout the country as investigations revealed a horrifying network of child abuse.

At least 13 of the rescued children were allegedly sodomized or taught to sexually assault others.

GISBH initially denied operating the welfare homes and rejected the allegations of abuse.

However, Nasiruddin later admitted that cases of sodomy had occurred within the organization in the past, while denying any deviant teachings.

In a related development, three men linked to GISBH pleaded not guilty in a Seremban court to charges of sexually assaulting boys aged between nine and 11 at a religious school associated with the organisation.

The alleged assaults took place between 2022 and 2023 in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

Additionally, another man was charged in Putrajaya for allegedly threatening a woman to withdraw a police report against GISBH.

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