S'pore woman who hit RI maid jailed

S'pore woman who hit RI maid jailed

SINGAPORE (DPA): A Singapore restaurant owner who clobbered her Indonesian maid with a vodka bottle and pressed a heated spoon against her body was jailed for three years and six months by the High Court, it was reported on Friday.

Asha Verma's "actions were simply instances of cruel and mindless violence on a victim in a vulnerable position," The Straits Times quoted Chief Justice Yong Pung How as saying.

The prosecution appealed Verma's original nine-month prison term meted out by the District Court in March.

The High Court heard on Thursday that the two attacks with the empty bottle were severe enough to hospitalize the 27-year-old maid for a total of 16 days.

Verma, 27, threatened the Indonesian woman with a knife at her apartment before abusing her with the heated spoon, resulting in genital burns that became infected, the court was told.