News
She told the authorities that she had taken out her frustrations on the elderly woman.
Joshua Lee
May 01, 2025, 01:21 PM
A 39-year-old Myanmar national has pleaded guilty to assaulting an elderly woman under her care.
At the time of the offence, Kyal Kyal Tun was working as a domestic helper to an elderly Singaporean couple in their 90s.
Employed by the couple's grandson, Kyal Kyal Tun's tasks included taking care of the elderly couple who had dementia.
The woman, aged 90, required assistance in moving around and eating, and was physically frail. She also had to wear diapers.
Her husband, who was 91, also wore diapers and required a walking frame for mobility. He was also a diabetic suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Kyal Kyal Tun moved into the couple's HDB flat and started working for them in late 2024.
The incident
The incident took place on Jan. 3.
Court documents indicated that at around 9pm that day, Kyal Kyal Tun informed the grandson's father that the elderly man had fallen in the kitchen.
The old man fell again subsequently at 10:20pm, this time in his bedroom.
However, the domestic helper left him lying on the floor for about 20 minutes.
Within that time, she carried the elderly woman to a sofa where she started the assault.
She covered the victim's mouth with her right hand and restrained the victim's hands with her left.
Kyal Kyal Tun then proceeded to press the elderly woman's head against the sofa.
Going further, the domestic helper took the victim's hands and used them to hit the latter's face.
The victim cried out for help several times, and even told the domestic helper that she "could die".
However, her pleas went unheeded.
At one point, the victim managed to move herself into the bedroom where her husband was.
Five minutes later, Kyal Kyal Tun dragged the woman out, threw her onto the sofa, and bit the woman's right hand.
The helper also choked the elderly woman and slammed her against the sofa multiple times.
Actions captured on CCTV footage
Kyal Kyal Tun's actions were captured on CCTV footage, which was viewed by the couple's grandson later that night.
He filed a police report on Jan. 4; the victim was taken to Singapore General Hospital on the same day.
A medical report that came out several days later detailed an extensive list of injuries, which included 12 bruises ranging from 1cm to 10cm in length, a 2cm laceration on her left arm, and an avulsed toenail, among other things.
However, the doctor who prepared the report could not state with certainty that the victim's injuries were attributable to the domestic helper's actions.
Kyal Kyal Tun was arrested on Feb. 17, more than a month after the assault took place.
The prosecutor told the court that the helper was "very stressed" and "had taken out her frustrations on the victim", reported The Straits Times.
Pleaded guilty
On Apr. 29, Kyal Kyal Tun pleaded guilty to three counts of using criminal force on the victim.
A fourth assault charge will be taken into consideration during her sentencing.
She will return to court on Jun. 4.
Top photo: Canva
