A Singapore police officer has been convicted for his role in the horrifying abuse and eventual death of 24-year-old Myanmar domestic worker Ms Piang Ngaih Don, a case that has shaken the public with its sheer brutality.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Chelvam, who had been suspended from the police force, was found guilty on April 10, 2025, after a trial involving four charges related to the abuse, starvation, and eventual death of Ms Piang, who died on July 26, 2016. Chelvam was convicted of voluntarily causing hurt by lifting the maid by her hair, abetting grievous hurt by starvation, tampering with crucial evidence, and lying to the police during investigations.
The court found that Chelvam not only physically assaulted Ms Piang, but also actively covered up the abuse after her death. District Judge Teoh Ai Lin ruled that he was fully aware of the extent of the abuse and starvation Ms Piang suffered in his household.
Despite being her registered employer, Chelvam allowed his then-wife, Gaiyathiri Murugayan, to take full charge of supervising the maid. Over time, this power dynamic turned into unchecked cruelty. Ms Piang, who arrived in Singapore on a two-year contract in May 2015, agreed to forgo a mobile phone and days off in return for higher pay and the promise of rest days at home—conditions that were never honored.
Initially, Gaiyathiri verbally abused Ms Piang, but by late 2015, she had escalated to frequent physical beatings. Around May 2016, Gaiyathiri’s mother, Prema S Naraynasamy, joined in the abuse when she began staying over at their Bishan flat. Both women routinely denied the maid food and rest, and forced her to shower with the toilet door open while they watched.
The abuse worsened in July 2016. For 11 nights in a row, Ms Piang was tied by one hand to a window grille while she slept on the floor. All the while, Chelvam was living in the flat with his wife, two young children, and two tenants.
CCTV cameras were installed throughout the house—ostensibly to monitor the children and maid. These cameras ultimately provided crucial evidence, capturing 35 days of disturbing footage from June 21 to July 26, 2016. It revealed Chelvam repeatedly witnessing his wife abusing the maid, sometimes right in front of him, without intervening.
One particularly telling moment, according to the judge, was when Chelvam lifted the emaciated maid off the ground by her hair. At that point, Ms Piang weighed less than 24kg, having lost nearly 40% of her body weight.
The judge said Chelvam’s failure to intervene in the face of prolonged starvation and physical abuse was not just passive—it was a deliberate and conscious omission. After the maid died, Chelvam dismantled the CCTV recorder to prevent police from obtaining the footage and lied about its existence, claiming it had been removed months earlier.
Both Gaiyathiri and Prema were earlier sentenced to 30 years and 17 years in jail respectively. Chelvam’s sentencing will take place on July 17, 2025, when the court will hear submissions from the prosecution and mitigation from the defence.
This case has brought national attention to the treatment of foreign domestic workers in Singapore and raised questions about accountability even within trusted institutions like the police force. Ms Piang Ngaih Don had left Myanmar for the first time in hopes of earning money for her family, only to meet an agonizing death in a home where she was supposed to be safe.
Comments
Post a Comment