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CAG chairman suspected maid of stealing ‘for years’

This article is more than 12 months old

Of all the things that had gone missing from his home, it was the loss of a portable power bank that upset Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong especially.

Mr Liew, 71, who was testifying in court yesterday, said the power bank was given to him after he delivered a guest lecture at a French university some years ago.

He took the "uniquely designed" device with him back to his home in Chancery Lane but could not find it a few days later, said Mr Liew on the ninth day of the trial of Indonesian maid Parti Liyani, who is accused of stealing from the home of her then employer.

"I was very upset," he told the court.

Parti, 44, who had worked for Mr Liew's family for eight years, faces four theft charges involving more than $50,000 worth of valuables, including a $25,000 Gerald Genta watch, two iPhones and a Gucci wallet.

DISCOVERED

The items were allegedly uncovered from the three boxes that she had packed to be shipped to Indonesia after she was asked to leave in 2016.

Mr Liew told the court he instructed his wife, Madam Ng Lai Peng, his son, Mr Karl Liew Kai Lung, and daughter-in-law, Ms Heather Lim Mei Ern, to terminate Parti's employment on Oct 28, 2016, while he was overseas.

He said he made the decision after many years of things going missing in the house.

"I have, in my heart, suspected her (of stealing) for many years," he said.

When questioned by Parti's lawyer, Mr Anil Balchandani, on why he had not acted earlier, Mr Liew said he had previously suggested terminating her employment to his wife, but Madam Ng told him it may not have been Parti who stole the items.

"So I tolerated (it) for many years," he added.

A day after Parti left, Mr Liew returned home and was informed that the family's belongings had been found in the three sealed boxes. He then decided to file a police report.

In April, Parti had told the court that some of the items that she had allegedly stolen had been salvaged from trash bags left behind by Mr Karl Liew after he moved out of his father's house in early 2016.

Yesterday, Mr Anil suggested that Mr Liew's family had actually discarded the items and "decided now that they want it back".

Mr Liew disagreed.

Among the items allegedly discarded were Longchamp bags.

Mr Liew told the court he had bought the bags while travelling overseas and though they were inexpensive, they were "very durable and useful" and he "cannot imagine that someone would throw them away".

COURT & CRIME