The wife of the director of water supplies was acquitted yesterday of assaulting her maid because the magistrate said he found the Indonesian woman who made the accusation an unreliable witness.
Kowloon City Court magistrate Bruce McNair acquitted Veronica Ling Tze-hing, 57, after a four-day hearing, which started in June but was adjourned until this month.
Domestic helper Irfany, 22, reported to the police in January that Ms Ling, who was then her employer, had assaulted her on December 3 and 10 in the kitchen of her Kowloon Tong home. Ms Ling, the wife of water supplies director William Ko Chan-gock, denied the charge.
In a 40-minute submission, barrister Daniel Marash told Mr McNair that Ms Ling, who had a clean record, had hired various maids over the years and none had filed a lawsuit against her.
He cast doubt on Ms Irfany's evidence because she had given inconsistent information on the dates of the alleged assaults.
The prosecution made no submission.