Indonesian woman allegedly enslaved by Malaysian couple in Melbourne, court hears of months-long abuse
A Malaysian couple is standing trial in Melbourne for allegedly enslaving an Indonesian woman in her 60s. Prosecutors claim the victim was beaten, starved, and forced to work to repay fabricated debts. The accused have pleaded not guilty to all three slavery-related charges.
- An Indonesian woman allegedly suffered months of abuse and forced labour in Melbourne.
- Malaysian nationals Chee Kit Chong and Angie Yeh Liaw face slavery-related charges and deny all allegations.
- The victim’s unlawful immigration status left her vulnerable; trial ongoing after police investigation following nurse’s report.
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: An Indonesian woman was allegedly beaten, starved, and forced to sleep on stairs or in a garage while working as a “slave” for a Malaysian couple, the Victorian County Court heard on 31 March 2026.
The ordeal reportedly began in early 2022, after the woman, then in her 60s, agreed to stay with Malaysian nationals Chong Chee Kit and at their Point Cook home.
Local media reported that prosecutors allege the abuse lasted several months.
“Chong threatened and coerced [the alleged victim] to provide domestic services,” prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg S.C. told the court.
“He repeatedly told her she had to work to repay supposed debts. And when [the victim] failed to meet Chong’s expectations … they would punish her by assaulting her, also by depriving her of sleep and food.”
Charges and defence claims
Chong is accused of knowingly using the woman as a slave, while Liaw is charged with assisting or encouraging the offence.
Both have pleaded not guilty, denying claims including abuse, deprivation of food or sleep, and coercion over a lost company credit card.
Defence lawyer Diana Price told the court: “There may be reasons [the complainant] may exaggerate or embellish or say things that are untruthful.”
The couple was ordered to stand trial in 2023 after being arrested in October 2022, following a tip-off from a healthcare worker.
Each faces three slavery-related charges, carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
The trial has faced multiple adjournments and frequent changes in legal representation.
Prosecutors previously warned delays could affect key evidence, particularly as the complainant was terminally ill.
Vulnerable due to immigration status
Court documents indicate the Indonesian woman initially met Chong and Liaw at a church in Malaysia, where she served as a pastor.
She moved to Australia on a tourist visa in 2017 but was left homeless when the couple returned to Malaysia without informing her.
In 2021, they invited her to Melbourne, promising a one-month stay.
Prosecutors said her unlawful immigration status made her especially vulnerable to exploitation, with Chong reportedly acting “as if he owned” her.
“On one occasion, he told her if she paid a million dollars she could leave,” Ginsbourg said.
Alleged conditions and abuse
The woman was allegedly forced to perform household chores and massage Chong.
She was reportedly hit with a vacuum cleaner after falling asleep during a massage.
Prosecutors also claim she was forced to stand all night, denied food and sleep, and confined to a garage.
“He would often hit or kick her. He would also punish her by telling her she could not sleep or eat that day,” Ginsbourg said.
“Chong dictated [the alleged victim's] access to food and facilities.”
Medical staff documented her injuries in the months before a nurse alerted police in October 2022, prompting an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation.
Couple’s account and police investigation
Chong told police he provided a place to stay because the woman was homeless, offering various explanations for her injuries, including diabetes, accidental falls, and assaults by other homeless people.
He denied ordering household tasks, claiming they were her idea.
Liaw told police they took pity on the woman when they found her on the streets of Melbourne and denied restricting her access to food.
The complainant died in 2024 from causes unrelated to the case. The trial is ongoing.
Modern slavery concerns in Australia
Latest AFP figures indicate modern slavery remains a significant issue.
In 2024-25, the AFP received 420 reports of human trafficking and modern slavery, a 10 per cent increase from the previous year.
Reports of forced marriage rose from 91 to 118, and exit trafficking reports doubled from 35 to 75.
Forced labour reports fell from 69 to 42, despite concerns about exploitative practices in certain sectors, reflecting ongoing challenges in addressing labour exploitation in Australia.
