Cash no way to settle abuse case

Cash no way to settle abuse case

SINGAPORE: A woman who sought to avoid trial for abusing an
Indonesian maid by offering an apology and cash was behind bars
on Wednesday serving a four-month prison term after the Chief
Justice threw out her appeal.

Jill Ho Yean Theng, 29, was convicted last April of abusing
Sartini Warsono five times.

She hit Sartini, 23, on the arm with a bamboo pole, scratched
her on the face with a key, struck her with a high-heeled shoe,
hit her with a basket and scratched her face with her fingers.

Ho, now divorced with a 4-year-old daughter, offered Sartini
an apology and S$5,000 (US$2,800) to settle the case last
November, but the court would not allow it.

Senior Counsel K.S. Rajah argued on Tuesday the four-month
sentence was excessive since Ho had apologized and the maid
agreed to accept the money.

"Not while I am Chief Justice," said Yong Pung How. "I have to
take the public interest into account."

Dismissing the appeal, Yong said the sentence was clearly not
excessive. -- DPA