26/07/10: Maid spiked soup with pills

Windri Hartatik (above) was found guilty by District Judge Lim Wee Ming of administering the stupefying drug to Madam Mah Ah Choo, 79, in December 2009.

A MAID, who laced a soup with 10 sleeping pills so that her employer would fall asleep and not find fault with her work, was jailed a year on Monday.

Windri Hartatik was found guilty by District Judge Lim Wee Ming of administering the stupefying drug to Madam Mah Ah Choo, 79, in December 2009.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Bhajanvir Singh asked the court not to show leniency to the Indonesian because employers and their family members need to be protected from violent maids. He said that Windri had abused the trust placed in her by her employer and had poisoned an elderly and very vulnerable victim.

During the six-day trial that started in April, Madam Mah told the court that while Windri would help herself to the fish and vegetable dishes, she would give the soup a miss on some occasions. The widow, who lived with the maid in a house in Paya Lebar Crescent, had earlier testified how for over a year, she would doze off within minutes of having a meal. She also found it difficult to wake up at her usual time of 6am.

On Dec 9, Madam Mah had taken a pork rib soup prepared by her maid. The retiree did not suspect anything. However, the next morning, she suffered a bout of giddiness and nearly collapsed at a supermarket. She had to be helped by staff and returned home with the maid in a taxi.

After resting, Madam Mah confronted Windri, who admitted to adding ‘medicine’ to the soup, to make Madam Mah sleep more and stop her from inspecting and finding fault with the maid’s work. The widow reported to police on Dec 22.