Sacked maid jailed for breaking eight-month-old baby's arm and leg

A domestic helper has been jailed for 31/2 years for ill-treating an eight-month-old boy who suffered a broken leg and arm.

Judge Chua Fi-lan said Lucban Denia-gremio, 25, had vented her anger on the boy out of resentment at his parents after they sacked her for poor performance. Lucban was convicted in the District Court yesterday of ill-treating the boy while he was under her sole care on March 11. She had pleaded not guilty.

Passing sentence, Judge Chua said it had not been a case of 'exasperation' and 'a fit of temper'.

'She took out her feelings on the baby by systematically causing four fractures.' Judge Chua also said she was satisfied Lucban had intended to 'twist' the boy's leg without being seen, knowing that she was monitored by closed-circuit television in the home.

The boy, now 15 months old, has made a full recovery without suffering any permanent damage.

The court heard Lucban was hired by the boy's parents - Chang Wai-fun and Yau Chi-wing - last December. She was the only person who had custody and care of the boy besides his parents. But they were so dissatisfied with her performance that they gave her a month's notice on March 1, telling her that her contract would end on April 2.

'Her sanitary standard was not acceptable,' Ms Chang told the court, saying she discovered Lucban did not wash her hands after going to the toilet.