Suspended police officer jailed 10 years over domestic worker’s death in Bishan

SINGAPORE: A suspended police officer was sentenced to 10 years’ jail on Thursday (17 July) for his involvement in the prolonged abuse and eventual death of a domestic worker from Myanmar, carried out by his then-wife and mother-in-law.

Staff Sergeant Kevin Chelvam, 46, was found guilty after a trial for his part in the 2016 death of 24-year-old Piang Ngaih Don. At the time of her death, she weighed only 24kg and succumbed to brain and neck injuries caused by severe blunt trauma.

Chelvam faced four charges — for grabbing the victim’s hair, abetting starvation, giving false information to police, and destroying evidence by dismantling a CCTV recorder in his Bishan flat.

District Judge Teoh Ai Lin said Chelvam had both the “time and opportunity” to stop the abuse but failed to act.

“He was her legal employer who was to ensure a safe working environment for her and should and could have stopped the abuse,” she said.

The judge condemned his removal of the CCTV recorder, saying: “If the CCTV recorder had not been recovered, Don would have taken with her to the grave the whole truth of what she had endured.”

Prosecution: Chelvam was complicit

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sean Teh argued that Chelvam was not a passive bystander but complicit in the abuse, fully aware of the victim’s starvation and physical mistreatment.

As her legal employer, he had “every opportunity” to intervene but instead “actively endorsed” withholding food as punishment.

Chelvam also knew the significance of the CCTV footage and tried to obstruct investigations by removing the device.

Recovered footage was instrumental in convicting all three accused — Chelvam, his wife Gaiyathiri Murugayan, and mother-in-law Prema S Naraynasamy.

Defence cites lost years

Defence lawyer Pratap Kishan argued that Chelvam’s life had “come to a standstill” during the nine years since the incident, though he was not in custody during the proceedings.

He submitted a character reference describing Chelvam as a “positive worker and an asset” to the Traffic Police.

Timeline of abuse

Piang began working for the family in May 2015 under a two-year contract naming Chelvam as her employer. She had no rest days and was denied a mobile phone.

While Gaiyathiri managed her daily duties, Prema frequently stayed over to help with childcare and chores.

Over time, verbal reprimands turned to physical assaults. Piang was deprived of sleep, allowed only five hours of rest nightly, and given minimal food.

She was made to wear multiple masks while working and to use the toilet with the door open under supervision.

For 11 nights before her death in July 2016, Gaiyathiri tied one of Piang’s hands to a window grille to restrict her movement.

CCTV evidence revealed the abuse

Cameras installed in the flat captured 35 days of footage documenting the abuse.

Recordings showed Chelvam at home during several assaults, including five instances where he stood nearby as his wife attacked Piang.

After her death, he tried to mislead police by claiming the CCTV recorder had been removed months earlier at a tenant’s request. He pretended to search for it before saying it could not be found.

The device was eventually recovered, and its footage was key in proving the abuse and securing convictions.

Sentences for others involved

In June 2021, Gaiyathiri pleaded guilty to 28 charges including culpable homicide and grievous hurt by starvation, receiving 30 years’ jail.

In June 2023, Prema was sentenced to a further three years, bringing her total term to 17 years.

Judge Teoh said Chelvam’s sentence reflected his breach of trust as both an employer and a police officer: “He knew what was right, yet he chose silence and deceit over duty.”