Gaiyathiri Murugayan, 42, viciously abused 24-year-old Myanmarese Piang Ngaih Don for several months until she died in 2016, having lost 15kgs through the ordeal.
Gaiyathiri was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment last year after she fatally abused her domestic helper. Her request to the Court of Appeal on Wednesday (May 4) for more records to support her appeal against her sentence was rejected.
Piang eventually passed away in the family’s three-bedroom flat along Bishan Street 11 after an assault from Gaiyathiri, who also tied her to a window grille for several hours.
An autopsy discovered 31 recent scars and 47 external injuries surrounding Piang’s body.
A High Court judge called the case one of the worst cases of culpable homicide to come before the courts.
Gaiyathiri pleaded guilty to 28 offences, with High Court judge See Kee Oon considering life imprisonment with “little hesitation” if not for the accused’s mental disorders.
It was reported by Today that Gaiyathiri suffered from major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Three psychiatrists noted that these disorders substantially contributed to the offences; hence her murder charge was reduced to culpable homicide.
Gaiyathiri, whose appeal against her sentence has not been heard, requested on Wednesday for orders of discovery, which is the formal process of exchange with relevant documents against the prosecution and Singapore Prison Service.
She claimed that she had not been given proper care by prison authorities. She also alleged being abused physically and sexually by fellow inmates.
“So many things” had happened in prison, such as confrontations between herself and other inmates and “officers treating us badly,” said Gaiyathiri, who appeared via video conferencing platform Zoom.
As Gaiyathiri began arguing about having “paid so much” since her offences started and that Piang’s relatives had already forgiven her, Justice Phang reminded her the hearing was not her official appeal but a request for new material and evidence to be considered.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Abdul Kadir also argued it was “logically impossible” for Gaiyathiri to have communicated with Piang’s relatives because she had no access to phones since she was arrested.
Regarding her complaints against fellow inmates and prison officers, the prosecution said the relevant parties “have been appropriately punished under the Singapore Prison Service’s inmate disciplinary framework.”
The court heard that Gaiyathiri was the aggressor in two of the incidents in 2019. There was also no indication of sexual abuse.
“The entire course of the proceedings involving (Gaiyathiri) clearly lays bare the reality that she will never take responsibility for her actions, instead opting to wrongfully cast blame on others for her predicament,” the prosecutors added.
After a short hearing, three appellate judges denied Gaiyathiri’s request, noting the records were irrelevant to her appeal.
Gaiyathiri’s spouse, Kevin Chelvam, who is a suspended police staff sergeant, and her mother, Prema S Naraynasamy, face five and 49 charges, respectively, for their connection to the abuse. Their cases are before the courts. /TISG
Policeman’s wife who starved and tortured Myanmar maid to death sentenced to 30 years’ jail