SINGAPORE – Unhappy with her domestic helper’s performance, a woman ordered her to do squats in her Woodlands Housing Board flat while uttering words such as “I am stupid”.
The maid suffered cramps to her legs after completing 40 squats and could not stand properly.
Despite this, Eylaiza Benazir Mohamad Ausman flung a sweet potato at the Indonesian woman’s left shin and told her to do 20 more squats.
The 33-year-old victim was unable to do as ordered. Eylaiza then pulled the maid’s ear, splashed water on her face and shoved her on her left shoulder.
On May 7, the 29-year-old Singaporean was sentenced to seven months’ jail and a fine of $5,000.
She had pleaded guilty to one count of assault involving the maid, and an unrelated harassment charge.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Jeremy Bin said that the offender had come home at around 6.30pm on July 23, 2024, and found out that the victim had helped Eylaiza’s five-year-old daughter put on a jacket.
Court documents stated that the little girl was the one who had wanted to wear the garment as she thought that it was pretty.
DPP Bin said: “The accused was unhappy with this, believing her daughter would feel too hot, and instructed the victim to do 20 squats while saying the Malay words ‘saya bodoh’, which means ‘I am stupid’ in English. The victim (complied).”
While the helper was performing the squats, Eylaiza went to a nearby refrigerator and found out that the victim had not placed some frozen food in its chiller compartment.
She then told the victim to do another 20 squats while saying “saya gila”, which means “I am crazy” in Malay.
The helper suffered cramps to her legs and could not stand properly after performing these 40 squats, the court heard.
Soon after, Eylaiza found out that the helper had bought sweet potatoes that came from Indonesia instead of Japan.
