A couple has been accused of mistreating a woman by keeping her as a live-in ‘slave’ and providing her with a diet solely consisting of Weetabix before her death. Chee Kit Chong and Angie Yeh Liaw have entered a plea of not guilty to charges of slavery after an Indonesian woman reportedly endured physical abuse, food deprivation, and being forced to sleep on the stairs over a 10-month period in Australia. The woman, who was in the country illegally, was initially expected to stay for only a month in early 2022, as disclosed in the Victorian County Court.
Allegedly, Mr. Chong held the woman accountable for misplacing a company credit card and demanded that she work to settle the debt. The couple, originally from Malaysia, purportedly exerted significant control over the victim’s life, compelling her to perform household chores and subjecting her to poor living conditions. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, passed away in 2024, a fact unrelated to the ongoing legal proceedings.
During the trial, it was revealed that the victim was instructed to consume only Weet-Bix, a breakfast cereal similar to Weetabix, while she carried out household duties and cared for the couple’s children without compensation. Prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg SC stated that Mr. Chong used threats and coercion to force the victim into providing domestic services, frequently reminding her to work off her alleged debts.
Furthermore, Mr. Chong allegedly resorted to physical violence as punishment, including hitting the woman with a vacuum cleaner and denying her sleep for an entire night. Prosecutors also claim he confined her in the garage on one occasion. To explain the victim’s injuries, Chong reportedly fabricated stories to medical professionals, alleging she was assaulted by a homeless individual and suffered from diabetes.
Chong faces accusations of enslaving the woman, while his wife is charged with aiding or abetting the offense. Despite the allegations raised, Chong’s defense team disputes many aspects of the case, including claims of abuse, sleep deprivation, food restriction, and the forced repayment of the credit card debt. Moreover, they contest the assertion that Chong instructed the victim to perform tasks, suggesting it was her own initiative. Diana Price, Chong’s defense attorney, expressed skepticism about the victim’s credibility and potential motives for exaggeration.
The trial is ongoing.
