Man, 25, jailed for fracturing maid’s eye socket after she remarked that he ‘ate a lot’

SINGAPORE — Upset that a domestic worker had remarked that he eats a lot, among other acts that displeased him, Suriya Krishnan fractured a portion of the worker’s face by punching her three times.

On Tuesday (Feb 8), Suriya, 25, pleaded guilty to a single charge under section 323A of the Penal Code, as someone who voluntarily causes hurt, which turns out to be grievous, even though he did not intend it to be so.

For the violence wrought on Ms Kyi Than, a 27-year-old domestic worker from Myanmar, Suriya was jailed for six months.

He will also be serving an extra month in prison because he cannot pay the court-ordered compensation of S$8,500 to Ms Kyi Than, who was employed by his sister.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tay Zhi Jie told the court that the incident happened on the evening of May 29 in 2020, when Suriya and his family were celebrating his father’s birthday at their family home.

Investigations found that shortly before the celebrations began, Suriya was already intoxicated after consuming 750ml of liquor on his own.

At around 8.30pm, Suriya’s mother instructed Ms Kyi Than to cut a piece of jelly for her son. Sometime later, Suriya entered the kitchen and told the worker to prepare food for him.

DPP Tay said that Suriya then became upset at the worker when she made a remark to the effect that he ate a lot and because “she did not cut the jelly in a manner that he wanted”.

Suriya began scolding Ms Kyi Than, but was stopped by his mother who, in turn, scolded her son. Both mother and son then left the kitchen.

However, Suriya returned later and punched Ms Kyi Than in the face thrice, with one blow landing on her right eye.

Suriya was eventually restrained by his family members. As for Ms Kyi Than, she sought medical treatment a day later and was hospitalised for close to a week until June 6, 2020.

Medical reports found that the attack had left Ms Kyi Than with fractures around her right eye socket, a black eye, subconjunctival haemorrhaging (broken blood vessel under eye surface) and pain on eye movement.

Anyone convicted of an offence under section 323A of the Penal Code can be jailed up to five years or fined up to S$10,000, or both.

The same offences involving a domestic worker carry heavier penalties of twice the maximum punishment.