Jail for domestic helper who abused elderly man with dementia

CCTV footage shows that helper manhandled the victim and hit him on multiple occasions

- Christine Tan

Feeling frustrated while taking care of an elderly man with dementia, a domestic helper repeatedly manhandled and hit him on multiple occasions.

The victim, who has Alzheimer's disease, is unable to accurately remember the abuse, let alone complain about it.

The prosecution said Myanmar national Thant Zin Oo, 36, had "acted with impunity" and might have thought he could get away with it due to the victim's condition.

On Feb 11, Thant Zin Oo was sentenced to 12 months and four weeks' jail after he admitted to three counts of voluntarily causing hurt. Two similar charges were taken into consideration.

In sentencing, District Judge Salina Ishak said that given Singapore's ageing population, many families engage domestic helpers to help care for older members.

Noting that Thant Zin Oo's actions would cause serious public disquiet, Judge Salina said: "There is a compelling reason to send a strong deterrent signal that such abuse of trust will not be tolerated by our courts."

Deputy Public Prosecutor Teo Lu Jia said the victim was 82 at the time of the incidents from February to March 2024, and lived in a Housing Board unit with other tenants.

As he had difficulties with daily living activities, his son had hired Thant Zin Oo to care for his father about 5 1/2 years before the recorded abuse took place.