Findings of High Court judge who acquitted maid of theft warrant further investigations: AGC

• AGC said it will study Justice Chan Seng Onn’s comments on Ms Parti Liyani’s case and assess if further actions are needed
• Justice Chan overturned a district court ruling that found Ms Parti guilty of stealing from her former employer Liew Mun Leong and acquitted her of all charges
• MOM issued a warning to Mr Liew’s wife and an advisory to his son for making Ms Parti work illegally in multiple places
• Ms Parti’s lawyer revealed that the Liews also filed a police report against him and his assistant for harassment

SINGAPORE — The findings of a High Court judge, who recently acquitted a foreign domestic worker accused of theft by her former employer Liew Mun Leong, raise questions which warrant further investigations, said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

In a media statement on Sunday (Sept 6), the AGC said it will study the judgement of Justice Chan Seng Onn to assess whether there are any further action that should be taken in light of Justice Chan’s comments about Ms Parti Liyani’s case.

The Ministry of Manpower also said in a statement on the same day that it is consulting with the AGC to see whether further action needs to be taken in light of Justice Chan’s comments.

It had earlier issued a warning to Mr Liew’s wife and an advisory to his son in May 2018, for making Ms Parti work illegally at other premises, including the son’s home and office.

The police also said on Sunday that they noted the High Court’s judgement on the case, and that several observations about the police’s investigations have been raised. The police said they are looking into them.

Ms Parti, 46, was sentenced to 26 months' jail in March 2019 after she was found guilty in a district court of stealing S$34,000 worth of items from her former employer, who is chairman of Changi Airport Group, and his family.

The sentence was overturned by Justice Chan on Friday who ruled that the district court had failed to consider several points, including the credibility of the testimony of Mr Liew’s son, Mr Karl Liew.

He had said that the senior Mr Liew, who is also chairman of infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong, and his son had an “improper motive” in accusing her of theft back in 2016.

She had threatened to file a complaint to the Manpower Ministry against her former employer for forcing her to work illegally at Mr Karl Liew’s home and office.

“There is reason to believe that the Liew family, upon realising her unhappiness, took the pre-emptive first step to terminate without giving her sufficient time to pack and complain to MOM,” said Justice Chan on Friday when delivering his judgement.

He also said that the Liews filed the police report to prevent Ms Parti’s return to Singapore to lodge her complaint with MOM after she had made the threat.

AGC in its statement noted Justice Chan’s comments, including the fact that he disbelieved the evidence of several members of the Liew family on various issues.

POLICE REPORT FILED AGAINST MAID’S LAWYER

During a virtual press conference on Friday, Ms Parti’s lawyer, Mr Anil Balchandan, revealed that he and his assistant have had police reports filed against them by the Liew family, accusing them of harassment, while they worked on Ms Parti’s case.

The lawyer said this was because he and his assistant had contacted the family’s driver and Mr Liew’s wife — individuals who were not witnesses for the prosecution — for interviews.

Mr Balchandani said the accusations hung over him and his assistant for over a year before the police investigation concluded that they did not commit any offence.

TODAY has sent the police a query regarding the investigations into Mr Balchandani.

Adding to the difficulties was how he received court-related documents very late. For example, photographs of items Ms Parti was accused of stealing were only given to him on the first day of the trial, according to the lawyer.

Given that she was accused of stealing 144 items, Mr Balchandani said it was an “enormous task” having to analyse the photographs, as well as a 21-second video that was submitted as evidence.

Ms Parti still faces a fifth charge of fraudulently possessing other alleged stolen items owned by unidentified individuals and her lawyer said they are ready for it.

Speaking through an interpreter on Friday, Ms Parti said she never thought of pleading guilty over the last four years as she sought to prove her innocence.

She also said she forgives her former employer for accusing her of stealing from his family, but added that she hopes he would not do the same to other workers.