He calls cops on own dad

benlim@sph.com.sg

A 45-year-old man called the police on his elderly father after he heard from his maid that she had been attacked by the 73-year-old.

Both men quarrelled in their Toa Payoh North flat for more than four hours on Tuesday morning, Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday.

The maid had been hired by the 45-year-old man, who is known only as Mr Teng, three months ago to look after his mother, who had suffered a stroke a few years back.

His father, who lives in the flat with another son, had reportedly got into an argument with the maid and slapped her on Tuesday morning.

The old man also allegedly used a wooden laundry pole to hit the maid on her left shoulder.

Mr Teng, who does not stay there, told Shin Min that he called the police because he could no longer tolerate his father's behaviour.

He said: "I had to stop my father when I saw him hitting the maid with the pole."

Mr Teng also claimed that his father had molested the maid.

But the maid told The New Paper yesterday: "Gong gong (grandfather in Chinese) hit me lightly on my buttock the other day, but it was supposed to be a joke and he was laughing the whole time, so I didn't take it seriously.

"That was the only time he touched me inappropriately."

The 32-year-old said that the incident happened three days after she was hired.

She added that Tuesday's incident was the first time that the senior Mr Teng had attacked her.

Indeed, she described him as a cheerful man when she first joined the family.

"His mood changed last month suddenly. He became grumpy and started scolding me and his son," she said.

"Gong gong nagged at his son a lot and sometimes my employer would just stop talking to him and lock himself in his room," she added.

ADMISSION

The older Mr Teng admitted to TNP that he did hit the maid, adding that he had only done so because she had been rude and rebellious.

He said: "She was rude to my wife and even threw a bowl of spoons on the dining table. I told her that if she has any problems, she should talk to her employer, but she refused and said something back."

The senior Mr Teng said he took offence and slapped her. The maid allegedly retaliated by pushing him.

"I almost fell, so in my rage, I picked up a pole in the kitchen and hit her," he added. He also denied molesting her.

His other son, who lives with him, said that it was his brother who had called the police.

He refused to comment further.

Police said a call was received on Tuesday at 9.34am and established that it was a case of suspected maid abuse.

Investigations are ongoing.