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SINGAPORE – Former domestic worker Parti Liyani decided to go ahead with her attempt to initiate disciplinary proceedings against two prosecutors, after she was given two weeks to consider whether she wanted to continue.
In response to media inquiries, a spokesperson for the migrant workers group Humanitarian Organization for the Economics of Migration (Home) said Ms Parti has “resolved to move forward” with the case. The non-governmental organization (NGO) declined to comment further.
Parti, 46, filed the application in June this year before being acquitted last month by the High Court on appeal for stealing from the family of prominent businessman Liew Mun Leong.
Earlier this month, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon heard her request in the chambers.
At the hearing, his lawyer, Mr. Anil Balchandani, said that his client considered withdrawing the complaint, as she was “undecided” as to whether she wanted to pursue the case.
On the one hand, Ms Parti believes that the two deputy prosecutors (DPP) should respond to the allegations she has raised in her affidavit, the lawyer said.
However, he also wanted to return to Indonesia as soon as possible, as he has not been at home for the past four years.
At the end of the hearing, the Chief Justice granted a two-week adjournment for Ms. Parti to make a final decision on whether or not she intends to proceed with the case.
The Chief Justice also noted that Ms. Parti will likely have to appoint another lawyer if Mr. Balchandani is to be a witness in the proceedings.
At the hearing, state attorney Kristy Tan from the Attorney General’s Office (AGC) said the DPPs in question will not object if the Chief Justice refers the matter for investigation.
The AGC has said that the two legal service officials “appreciate the opportunity to present a full and transparent account of what happened during the trial” and “will cooperate fully in any investigation.”
The high-profile case sparked public outrage, with questions about the evidence-gathering process and the way the trial was conducted.
The police and AGC reviews are expected to be completed in two to three weeks.
The Minister of Law and Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, has said that he intends to make a ministerial statement in Parliament next month after these reviews are completed, and will address the questions raised.
Ms. Parti, who worked for the Liews for nine years, had claimed a trial in April 2018 on allegations that she stole $ 34,000 worth of items from the family.
While on bail, he stayed at a shelter run by migrant worker group Home. The NGO approached Mr. Balchandani, who represented it pro bono under the Criminal Legal Assistance Plan.
In March last year, the Indonesian was sentenced to 26 months in prison.
He appealed against his conviction in a three-day hearing that took place between November of last year and August of this year.
In June, Ms. Parti filed a complaint against Deputy Prosecutors Tan Wee Hao and Tan Yanying.
In acquitting Ms Parti, one of the issues raised by High Court Judge Chan Seng Onn in his judgment related to a demonstration conducted by the DPPs on a DVD player.
Ms Parti said that she was allowed to take the player as it was broken.
During the trial, the DPPs showed Ms. Parti that the device could play a video stored digitally on the hard drive. However, during the appeal, it was shown that the device could not play DVDs.
Judge Chan had said that if the prosecution had known about this defect, they should have fully disclosed it.
Otherwise, the trial court could be mistaken in thinking that the player was in good working condition when Ms Parti was asked questions.
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