Maid jailed for life in Singapore after murder of 73-year-old employer whose family gave her a second chance

SINGAPORE, July 29 — An Indonesian domestic worker was reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment today for murdering a 73-year-old man she had been hired to care for, a week after his family discovered that she had stolen jewellery from them.

Singapore’s CNA reported that Sumiyati, 53, who goes by one name, was convicted of killing Low Hoon Cheong at his Bishan flat on April 28, 2022.

Sumiyati had worked for the family since 2019, performing household chores and caring for Low, who had mobility issues.

The court heard that she initially had a good relationship with the family, who renewed her contract and raised her monthly salary from about S$570 (RM2,329) to S$700 (RM2,861) in 2021.

However, she began stealing jewellery from Low’s wife in April 2022 and pawning the items for cash.

After Low’s wife discovered a missing bracelet on April 21 that year, Sumiyati admitted taking the jewellery and handed over the pawn tickets.

The family decided against lodging a police report after she apologised and asked for another chance, while they also continued to need her help caring for Low.

A week later, Sumiyati stole money from Low’s wallet while he was having lunch and later took more cash while he was asleep.

After waking, Low questioned her about a necklace belonging to his wife that had gone missing.

Sumiyati denied taking the necklace and became angry at what she considered a false accusation. At the same time, she feared that Low might discover the cash she had stolen earlier that day.

She later suffocated him while he was asleep, before taking S$70, two mobile phones and a pair of earrings and leaving the flat.

Sumiyati was arrested early the following morning, while an autopsy found that Low’s death was consistent with suffocation.

Her lawyer said she had lost money to three alleged online scammers and had resorted to borrowing and stealing to raise funds, although prosecutors said the purported scams had not been established as fact.

The court was also told that Sumiyati had no mental disorder at the time of the offence, although she was assessed as having borderline intelligence.

Justice Mavis Chionh said the killing involved some planning but was conceived spontaneously that day, and did not display the viciousness or blatant disregard for human life that would warrant the death penalty.

Both the prosecution and defence sought life imprisonment, with Sumiyati apologising to Low’s family through her lawyer and asking for their forgiveness.