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Maid jailed 1 year for hurting 87-year-old woman more than 20 times

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A maid who hurt an 87-year-old bedridden woman more than 20 times was jailed for a year on Wednesday (Jan 21).

Indonesian Sulastri Sakiran Sumadi, 37, bore a grudge against her employer over a dispute they had in February last year and decided to take it out on her employer's mother.

She used her bare hands or an object to hurt the elderly woman, who suffers from a host of medical conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, reported The Straits Times.

Sulastri was employed in April 2013 to do household chores and take care of the elderly woman.

From May 17 to June 21 last year, Sulastri repeatedly hurt the woman. 

'Sakit'

The 87-year-old did not retaliate or shout during the incidents. Instead, she would say "sakit" (Malay for pain) softly and apologise to the maid, despite not knowing what she had done to lead to the assault.

The maid's actions of voluntarily causing hurt were recorded by a closed-circuit television installed in the victim’s room.

It was only when the victim complained to her daughter of pain in her head did the latter review the CCTV footage.

She faced 24 charges and admitted to eight counts.

Cruel and wicked

Pleading for a light sentence, Sulastri said her mother died in February last year and she had asked her employer for leave to go home but was rejected.

She said she could not control her mind and took it out on the victim.

District Judge Lee Poh Choo said she had been cruel and wicked towards the victim, who was totally dependent on her care.

"You used such force that you left bruises and marks on this old lady. I agree with prosecution a deterrent sentence is definitely called for," she said.

Source: The Straits Times

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