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SINGAPORE: An Indonesian maid was acquitted last Friday (September 4) of robbing the family of Changi Airport Group president Liew Mun Leong, nearly four years after her former employer fired her.
In March 2019, Ms. Parti Liyani was convicted of four counts of robbery, before Judge Chan Seng Onn overturned the convictions in High Court. In her sentence last Friday, Judge Chan set out the reasons for Parti’s acquittal.
Here is a timeline of events related to the case:
MARCH 2007: MS PARTI BEGINS WORKING AT LIEW HOUSEHOLD
Ms. Parti Liyani worked as a foreign domestic worker in March 2007 at the Liew household, which included Mr. Liew Mun Leong, his wife Madam Ng Lai Peng, his daughter Liew Cheng May, his son Karl Liew, and Mr. Karl Liew, Heather Lim.
Mr. Liew Mun Leong is your formal employer.
In March 2016, Karl Liew, his wife and children moved out of the house and lived elsewhere. The court heard that Ms Parti had a “cordial relationship” with the family.
MS PARTI ASKED TO CLEAN KARL LIEW’S HOME AND OFFICE
The court heard that Ms. Parti was sent to work in Mr. Karl Liew’s home and office on “multiple occasions” in addition to her employer’s home. This contravened certain MOM regulations, the ruling said.
MOM said last Sunday that Mdm Ng sent Ms. Parti to her son’s residence between September 2016 and October 2016, and to her office around 2012 and 2013.
Parti Liyani speaking at a press conference after she was acquitted of stealing S $ 34,000 from Changi Airport Group Chairman Liew Mun Leong and his family.
OCTOBER 28, 2016: MS PARTI’S EMPLOYMENT ENDED
On October 28, 2016, the family decided to fire Ms. Parti after suspicions that she was stealing from the family.
They gave him two hours to pack his things and leave. He also asked Mr. Karl Liew for large boxes to send his belongings to Indonesia.
While packing, Ms. Parti threatened to file a complaint with MOM about being asked to clean Mr. Karl Liew’s home and office.
Before she could seal two of the boxes, the employment agency returned and informed Ms. Parti that her time was up and that she had to leave. Two drivers who worked for the family sealed the boxes.
The Superior Court would later rule that the family had hoped that she would not use that time to file a complaint with MOM. The termination of employment was a “first preventive step,” Judge Chan said.
OCTOBER 29 TO OCTOBER 30, 2016: THE LIEWS FILES A POLICE REPORT
Ms. Heather Lim said the family should not send the boxes to Parti without verifying the contents, which may include illegal items.
They searched the contents of the boxes on October 29, during which time they discovered items allegedly belonging to the family. They spent approximately two hours removing and sorting the boxes and recorded a 21-second video of the process.
Mr. Liew Mun Leong and his son submitted the police report on October 30.
THE POLICE ALLOWS THE FAMILY TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE BOX FOR DAILY USE
After the police report was made, Investigating Officer Tang Ru Long told the family that they were free to use the items found in the giant boxes, except to dispose of the items.
The investigating officer said that the items, which were the subject of the charges, were not seized or taken into personal custody by IO Tang, as he did not want the family to be “devictimized.”
DECEMBER 2, 2016: MOST PARTY ARRESTED
On December 2, Parti was arrested at Changi Airport upon arrival in Singapore to seek employment.
Items allegedly belonging to the Liews were found on her, including two Longchamp bags, a Gerald Genta watch, a Helix watch, two iPhones, a Prada handbag and a pair of stained Gucci sunglasses, among other items.
DECEMBER 3, 2016: THE POLICE VISIT THE LIES
The next day, IO Tang visited the Liew’s home with a crime scene photographer to take photos of the exhibits. These items would only be received in police custody on April 18, 2018.
DECEMBER 2016: THE COMPANY PARTI INTERESTED BY THE POLICE
Parti’s statements were recorded on December 3, December 4, and May 29.
Interviews were conducted in a combination of English and Bahasa Melayu, although Ms. Parti spoke Bahasa Indonesian.
No interpreter was present for the recording of the statements. Another investigating officer, IO Amirudin Nordin, helped translate IO Tang’s questions in English into Bahasa Melayu.
IO Amirudin “admitted” that there was a difference between Malay and Indonesian.
Liyani left with her lawyer Anil Balchandani outside of the High Court on September 4, 2020. She was acquitted of robbing the Chairman of Changi Airport Group, Liew Mun Leong, and his family. (Photo: Humanitarian Organization for the Economy of Migration)
The High Court judge said that there was a possibility that the recorded statements read in English and Bahasa Melayu would be understood by Ms Parti differently than IO Amirudin had meant. Two statements were not read in Bahasa Indonesia for confirmation.
Ms. Parti also told the court that she did not feel comfortable speaking Bahasa Melayu and that she was not given the option of an interpreter.
AUGUST 2017: MS PARTI LOADED
Parti was indicted in court in August 2017.
She faced four counts, including three counts of home burglary and one count of burglary as a maid.
OCTOBER 2017: MS PARTI LODGES REPORT TO MOM
In October 2017, Ms Parti submitted a report to MOM about the illegal deployment of Mdm Ng at Karl Liew’s home and office.
APRIL 23, 2018: MS PARTI CLAIMS TRIAL
Parti claimed trial on April 23, 2018.
She was accused of stealing items from Mr. Liew Mun Leong and members of his family.
AUGUST 2018: MR. LIEW MUN LEONG TESTIFIES DURING THE TRIAL
During the trial that followed, Mr. Liew Mun Leong told the court that he had long suspected that Ms. Parti had been stealing from her family’s home, but that she “tolerated” her behavior.
READ: The Chairman of Changi Airport Group suspected the maid of stealing for years, but tolerated her behavior
When questioned, Mr. Liew said he had a “propensity for bags” and objected to the claim by Ms. Parti’s lawyer, Anil Balchandani, that two of the missing bags had been discarded.
He added that it was “not possible” for his wife to offer the discarded bags to Ms Parti.
MARCH 20, 2019: MS PARTI FOUND GUILTY
District Judge Olivia Low found Ms. Parti guilty on March 20, 2019, of stealing more than S $ 30,000 worth of items from the Liew family.
The judge said she saw “no reason why the Liew family and (their) chauffeur Robin would conspire to frame the defendant for the theft, especially when they had employed her for several years.”
READ: Maid found guilty of stealing S $ 30,000 worth of items from Changi Airport Group chairman’s family
He added that he found the prosecution’s witnesses “to a great extent credible and consistent,” and that the victims were able to identify the items that belonged to them and what they did with them.
Ms. Parti was sentenced to two years and two months in prison.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020: MORE PARTI ACQUIRED
On September 4, 2020, High Court Judge Chan Seng Onn overturned the convictions and acquitted Ms. Parti of all charges.
In his sentencing, Judge Chan said that the convictions against Ms Parti were “unsafe” due to the presence of an “improper motive” and that the prosecution had not been able to prove her case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Parti Liyani (sixth from right) cheering with HOME volunteers and staff and her attorney, Anil Balchandani, after she was acquitted of stealing S $ 34,000 from Changi Airport Group president Liew Mun Leong and his family. (Photo: Facebook / HOME)
LEE: Maid acquitted of stealing items worth 34,000 Singapore dollars from the home of the president of Changi Airport Group
“In my judgment, there is reason to believe that the Liew family, realizing their unhappiness, took the first preventative step to terminate their employment suddenly without giving them enough time to pack, in the hope that Ms. Parti would not use the It is time to file a complaint with MOM, ”said the Superior Court judge.
“Once he expressed a desire to complain to MOM after his sudden termination on October 28, 2016, the Liew family followed up with the police report to ensure that his return would be prevented.
“In my opinion, the Liew family could not have made a police report if Ms. Parti had not expressly threatened her on October 28, 2016 to report the matter to MOM.”
He also noted that Parti “never showed any interest” in the giant boxes and that there is a “real possibility of a mix-up of items” as well as a reasonable doubt that the items were not accurately documented in photographs taken by police officers. five weeks later.
The judge also found Mr. Karl Liew to be “a witness who not only lacked credibility, but also did not take the testimony process seriously”.
He added that it was “quite unusual” that she mainly stole items that appear to be damaged, broken or worthless to the alleged owners.
LEE: The maid acquitted of robbing the family of the president of Changi Airport Group hid her ordeal from her family
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020: AGC, MOM AND POLICE PROBLEM STATEMENTS
On September 6, the Attorney General’s Office (AGC) said that Judge Chan’s findings “raise questions that warrant further investigation.”
“AGC will study the ruling to assess what additional measures, if any, should be taken in this case, in light of (Judge Chan’s) comments,” AGC said.
READ: Judge’s findings ‘raise questions’ justifying further investigations after maid was acquitted of robbing CAG president’s family: AGC
MOM also confirmed that Karl Liew received a warning and Mdm Ng issued a warning in 2018, after Parti made a report about his illegal deployment. The ministry said it was in consultation with AGC on “whether further action should be taken, if any.”
The Singapore Police also said they are investigating the various observations raised in the High Court ruling on the police investigations.
