Singapore Court Sentences Former Police Officer to 10 Years for Role in Fatal House Help Abuse
A Singapore court handed a 10-year prison sentence to Kevin Chelvam, a 46-year-old former police officer of Indian origin, for his involvement in the tragic abuse of a 24-year-old house help. The victim, Piang Ngaih Don, succumbed to months of starvation and physical torture inflicted by Chelvam's ex-wife and mother-in-law.
Convicted on four charges, including voluntarily causing harm to Don, abetting grievous hurt by starvation, providing false information to law enforcement, and tampering with crucial evidence, Chelvam's actions were deemed highly culpable by the court. As reported by Channel News Asia, Don, originally from Myanmar, passed away on July 26, 2016, due to brain injuries from repeated blunt force trauma.
At the time of her death, Don was severely underweight, weighing just 24 kilograms. District Judge Teoh Ai Lin emphasized that Chelvam, as Don's legal employer, failed to intervene as his former spouse, Gaiyathiri Murugayan, and mother-in-law, Prema S Narayanasamy, subjected her to regular abuse. Both women are serving prison terms of 30 and 17 years, respectively, for their involvement in the case.
Evidence presented in court revealed Chelvam's active role in removing a CCTV recorder that contained key footage and providing misleading information to investigators. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sean Teh highlighted footage showing Chelvam present during numerous abusive incidents and accused him of endorsing the withholding of food, further compromising Don's health.
Although Chelvam faced multiple charges, the court granted him a discharge amounting to an acquittal on a fifth charge related to using criminal force.
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