Woman jailed for torturing maid is cleared of failing to pay her wages

A woman jailed for torturing her Indonesian domestic helper with hot irons and bicycle chains has been found not guilty of withholding the maid's wages during her entire two-year service.

Deputy Magistrate Ho Chun-yiu made the ruling when Catherine Au Yuk-shan, 42, appeared at Sha Tin Court yesterday on 24 charges of failing to pay Kartika Puspitasari, 31, a total of HK$86,000 for two years from July 2010.

Au told the court earlier that she paid Kartika in cash every month. The court also heard that Au kept a book of salary records but that this went missing the day Kartika fled Au's Tai Po flat.

Au's husband, Tai Chi-wai, 43, also told the court that he saw Au give Kartika the wages in the first three months she worked for the couple.

He also said he accompanied Kartika to convenience stores, where she transferred part of her wage to her recruitment agency.

Deputy Magistrate Ho Chun-yiu said he did not believe Au's testimony because she "did not answer what was asked".

But he also questioned the testimony of Kartika. For example, he did not understand why Kartika was willing to work for Au for two years with no pay.