Indonesian maid charged for allegedly strangling toddler to death

An Indonesian maid was charged on Tuesday (May 10) with culpable homicide not amounting to murder over the death of her employer’s one-year-old daughter.

Maryani Usman Utar, 30, allegedly strangled the crying toddler to death on Sunday, between 2am and 7.36am in the family’s flat at Block 225 Simei Street 4.

The charge sheet stated the woman had punched the child’s neck and strangled her “with all your strength until she stopped crying” and “with the knowledge that such acts were likely to cause her death”.

The maid bowed her head as the charge was read to her in court by an Indonesian interpreter.

District Judge Christopher Goh granted the prosecution’s request for her to be remanded for another week. She will next appear in court on May 17.

For culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the woman faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine.