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A Singaporean woman accused of abusing two domestic workers at her Sentosa Cove home went to trial yesterday.
Tan Lee Hoon, 56, is contesting eight charges of willfully causing harm to two Filipino women while working at his home on Paradise Island.
It is alleged that he pinched Ms. Jenefer Arangote Vegafría, 39, in the stomach, arm, chest and thigh on several occasions in September 2018, and allegedly beat Ms. Joan Lozares Lizardo, 33 years old , in the chest and hit his head. Next month.
Tan, who is represented by attorneys Sunil Sudheesan and Diana Ngiam, is also accused of hitting Ms. Lizardo’s torso with a stick.
Both helpers were employed by Tan’s husband, Sim Guan Huat, who faces separate charges related to the illegal employment of foreign nationals, including Ms. Lizardo.
According to public records, Tan owned a furniture company from 1989 to 1993 and was director of the Novena Medical Center from 2005 to 2007.
Sim, 59, owns a vehicle and tire battery company and is a director of three other companies.
Court documents say that Sim hired Ms. Lizardo in October 2015 and hired Ms. Vegafría in August 2018.
The alleged abuses came to light on October 17, 2018, after Ms. Vegafría’s friend, also a domestic worker, contacted the Ministry of Labor, which in turn alerted the police. The friend claimed that Ms. Vegafría was beaten by her employer and allegedly had photos of the bruises she suffered.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lynn Tan, investigating officer in the case, testified yesterday that the alleged abuses occurred on two floors of the house, where multiple closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed.
But no images were recorded as the CCTV server was missing its hard drive.
The officer checked with the company that installed the cameras and was told that the system should have had all the accessories, including the hard drive, unless it had been removed or modified.
During questioning, Mr. Sunil said that the maids had changed their stories many times and asked why sticks were not seized from the house on October 17, noting that one was allegedly used to beat Ms. Lizardo.
ASP Tan said the victims told her that Tan had disposed of the sticks that were used.
The trial will resume this morning and one of the victims is expected to take the stand.
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