Singapore – A domestic worker in Singapore was sentenced to 17 months’ jail on Thursday (Jan 27) after she admitted recording and sharing online video of her bathing the 74-year-old man she looked after.

The 33-year-old woman uploaded the clip to the short-video app TikTok and shared it online without his consent. She admitted twice distributing the recordings intentionally of the naked and helpless man without his permission.

The elderly man was diagnosed in December 2019 with several health conditions, including multiple brain abscesses, and could not protect himself, reported The Straits Times.

“The victim is, by reason of his physical infirmity, unable to protect himself from abuse, neglect or self-neglect,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Foong Ke Hui.

The man’s family had engaged a helper on Feb 1, 2020 to work in their flat in Punggol. Less than a month later, she used her mobile phone to record herself bathing the elderly man who was naked.

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She then sent the nine-minute clip to an unknown party through WhatsApp. She recorded another clip of herself and the elderly man in the bathroom in January last year.

“After recording the video… the accused uploaded the video onto (TikTok) using her account. The video was accessible by anyone who had the link to the video,” said the prosecutor.

The proescutor added: “The accused claimed that she took down the video from TikTok within an hour because she received several negative comments online criticising her behaviour. However, the accused retained the video recording on her handphone”

A concerned netizen shared the clip to the Facebook page Singapore FDWs & Employers Support Group on Jan 2 last year.

The maid was caught on camera glancing towards her phone which she appeared to have set up to record.  She then directed the showerhead at the elderly man to bathe him.

Netizens lambasted her actions and told her that she had crossed a line. Many called her actions  “disgusting, shameless and irresponsible”.

“Let this post or incident remind and warn members not to commit such acts exposing your wards in such manner,” said the person who shared the clip. “If your employer reports you to the police or MOM (Ministry of Manpower), you had better standby to pack your luggage and take the next available flight home.”

The elderly man’s son came across the post and realised it was his father in the video. A police report was made, and the maid was arrested the following day for voyeurism./TISG

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ByHana O