78-year-old woman jailed for pouring hot water on domestic worker in HK

Ismiati's back days after the scalding incident. (Source: SUARA)

Despite her protests, a District Court judge this afternoon (Nov. 19) sent an elderly Indonesian-Chinese woman to prison for pouring hot water on the back of her Indonesian domestic worker.

Deputy District Court Judge C.H. Li sentenced Gee Hoo Giok, 78, to one year in prison after he found her guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent for physically abusing Ismiati, 29.

He also ordered her to pay $500 for terminating the domestic worker while she was on sick leave.

“Why did you do this to me? I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it. Why do you have the heart to do this to me?” Gee said after the judge handed down her sentence.

The elderly defendant looked confused as she was taken out of the court room while Gee’s relatives and friends shouted protests after the judge left.

The prosecution said Ismiati began working for Gee in March last year after she was hired to take care of her ailing husband. But a day before she started working on March 27, 2017, Gee’s husband died.

Ismiati said the defendant blamed her for her husband’s death, adding that he would not have died if the domestic worker had arrived earlier. Ismiati said she told Gee that her visa was still being prepared.

The domestic worker said she initially tried to be patient and understand Gee’s situation but the defendant allegedly called her stupid and claimed that she was slow in cooking food.

And then on March 29—Ismiati’s third day working with Gee—the defendant poured hot water on her back while she was working. Gee later brought her to her employment agency and then terminated her contract.

In early October 2018, Judge Li found the defendant guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and of terminating Ismiati while she was on sick leave.

Judge Li reduced Gee’s prison sentence from 15 months to 12 months because of her advanced age but ordered her to pay a $500 fine for violating HK labor rules.