Disability advocate allegedly abused over 20 maids and played victim, MOM investigating
A prominent disability awareness advocate allegedly verbally and physically abused numerous helpers.
The alleged abuser, Jane (not her real name), has been featured in various local media publications for her story as an amputee.
Her friend, Stomper Mary (not her real name), said that she has gotten away with the abuse of more than 20 maids by playing victim.
About a year ago, Mary claimed that one of Jane's previous helpers had run away from home.
At that time, she believed that this was due to the helper's negligence and did not suspect Jane might have been the reason.
However, on April 8, Jane purportedly told Mary she had punched her maid, Tina (not her real name), and felt "damn shiok" about it.
Mary also found a letter Tina wrote asking for help.
In the letter, she wrote: "I am punished for every small mistake. My employer uses very harsh words.
"One time, my employer asked for drinking water, and I brought her hot water by mistake. So she asked me to drink it, and I had to make up for it by sleeping on the floor.
"My face had to be on the floor with my arms spread out," Tina detailed in her letter.
Mary added: "Tina was told to slap herself repeatedly. She was also instructed to wipe Jane's faeces with her shirt, and was not allowed to shower and change out of her shirt for two days.
"Jane wanted her to throw dirty water from mopping into the corridor, but Tina threw it in the kitchen toilet since it was too dirty. She had to ask for forgiveness in these positions."
According to Mary, Tina was also forced to perform exercises like burpees more than 200 times if she made mistakes, and made to stand for long hours as punishment while Jane scolded her.
Tina said Jane required her maids to ask her for permission to use the bathroom, eat and use their phones, among other daily activities.
A video taken by Mary on April 9 shows June ordering Tina to do exercises, as Tina wipes tears off her face.
June told Tina to move faster, and said: "If you are hard-headed, your feet will hurt."
"If you choose for your feet to hurt, you are hard-headed."
"What do you want? Do you want to go to the police? Choose."
Eventually, Tina sought shelter at the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home).
Jane subsequently hired a new maid, Jesi (not her real name).
On April 22, Jane told Mary her helper was "bullying" her and sent Mary a video of Jesi crying.
In audio recordings of a phone call between the two, Jane admitted that she punished Tina.
The video from Jane showed her scolding Jesi as she broke down in tears.
During the video, Jane said: "Jesi, I am disabled. My family is not around, but if I call them, you are going to get it. Do not bully me, I will take a video. Enough."
Jesi responded: "I did not bully you."
To which Jane replied: "Look at this performance.
"I gave her work to do and she does not want to do it. She is fighting with me again."
When Jesi tried to walk away into a room, Jane shouted: "That room is my mother's. Do not go in."
"Get out. Come over here. Get out of the house!"
Mary said she called the police right after seeing the video.
"The authorities took no action, saying that Jesi agreed to the physical punishments," Mary recounted.
"Jane had punished her by making her stand, so Jesi took the opportunity to kneel and rest when asked to apologise."
"Eventually, Jesi's agent came to scold her, confiscated her passport, then cancelled her work permit and sent her on the last ferry to Batam, all on the same day."
Tina and Jesi would not be the only ones who would speak out about their abuse, with Mary claiming that another maid, Nia, had also reached out to her.
Nia said her legs started swelling after being forced to stand for long hours as part of Jane's punishment.
Mary said that despite the many allegations from different maids levied against Jane, their stories were never believed.
"She always plays the victim card and gets pitied as she has no hands and legs," Mary expressed.
"The authorities do not believe that she can cause physical harm, but she can spar in YouTube videos."
In response to a Stomp query regarding Jesi's case, the police confirmed that a report was lodged.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) told Stomp it is investigating the matter.
"Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) who are in distress can call MOM's MDW Helpline at 1800 339 5505 on weekdays during office hours, or the Centre for Domestic Employees' 24-hour helpline at 1800 225 5233," MOM added.
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