A 34-year-old Indonesian domestic worker in Singapore has been sentenced to 11 weeks in jail after repeatedly assaulting a 69-year-old woman with dementia who was under her care.
Maria Inggrid Seran, who had cared for the elderly woman since March 2023, was aware of her medical conditions and knew that she was vulnerable, CNA reported.
The woman suffered from several health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, diverticulosis and hyperlipidaemia. She was also non-communicative and unable to be interviewed during investigations.
By November 2025, the woman had lost the ability to feed or care for herself. Seran was responsible for helping her get on and off her bed and transfer to her wheelchair.
The assault happened on April 20 while Seran was feeding the woman breakfast. After becoming angry when the elderly woman grew frustrated, Seran slapped her twice on the face and once on the head.
She also hit the woman’s hand, legs and feet, and pinched her nose twice. Her actions were captured on CCTV inside the home.
The woman’s son contacted police that evening after his brother sent him a video showing Seran assaulting their mother. Seran was subsequently arrested.
Although medical examinations found no physical injuries, the assault caused the elderly woman pain to her head, face, legs, hands and nose.
Seran also admitted that it was not the first time she had assaulted the woman. She said she had previously hit her to stop her from nagging, believing that fear would make the elderly woman stay quiet.
During sentencing on September 4, Seran, who was unrepresented, asked the court for a lighter sentence through an interpreter.
The prosecution sought 11 to 13 weeks’ jail, noting that the abuse could have been difficult to detect without the CCTV footage.
Voluntarily causing hurt carries a maximum penalty of three years’ jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both. Where an offender knew or should have known that the victim was vulnerable, the maximum punishment can be doubled.
