SINGAPORE — A 42-year-old woman will be charged with hurting her former domestic helper by punching her eyes and repeatedly pressing a heated iron against her arm, the police said on Tuesday (April 27).

The employer, who was not named by the police, had allegedly assaulted her 49-year-old domestic worker on multiple occasions between February and October last year, the police said in a statement.

She is set to be charged on Wednesday with two counts of voluntarily causing hurt, one of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means and one of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

The charges include pressing a heated iron onto her Indonesian helper’s right forearm repeatedly, as well as punching and hitting her eyes with clothes hangers.

The police said they were informed of the alleged offences on Oct 30 last year, without specifying who had lodged the report. 

“As the domestic worker had returned to Indonesia when the report was received, efforts were taken to facilitate her return to Singapore to assist with investigations,” they said.

The punishment for voluntarily causing hurt is up to three years’ jail, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

Those found guilty of causing hurt by dangerous means can be jailed up to seven years, fined, caned, or any combination of these punishments.

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt carries a punishment of up to 10 years’ jail, and offenders are also liable to be fined or caned.

But the same offences involving a domestic worker carry heavier penalties of twice the maximum punishment.