Erwiana case: boss loses separate trials bid
Law Wan-tung, 44, will face an additional charge of failing to acquire insurance for Erwiana when her trial takes place in December, Judge Amanda Woodcock ruled at the District Court.
A judge yesterday agreed to add a new charge to the case against a woman accused of abusing Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, despite objections from her defence that it should be heard at a separate trial.
Law Wan-tung, 44, will face an additional charge of failing to acquire insurance for Erwiana when her trial takes place in December, Judge Amanda Woodcock ruled at the District Court.
Law was already facing 20 charges; 10 of assault on Erwiana and two other Indonesian domestic helpers, Tutik Lestari Ningsih and Nurhasanah; and 10 of violating labour laws by failing to pay or give holidays to Erwiana this year and last.
Law was charged with the additional offence at Kwun Tong Court last month.
"The charges are closely linked, and they are related to one of the victims [Erwiana] in the same period of employment," Woodcock said. Having two separate trials would not, therefore, be practical.
The defence had objected to a prosecution request to combine the two trials.
Peter Cahill, for Law, said the new charge was less serious than the others and would normally be dealt with by magistrates, rather than the District Court.