Couple who caused Cambodian maid's demise sentenced to death

PUTRAJAYA - A couple whom the prosecution said starved, abused, neglected and denied their Cambodian maid medical care which eventually led to her death were sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal Friday.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Lailawati Ali had argued that the trial judge was wrong to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter against the couple.

Hardware store owner Soh Chew Tong, 46, and his wife Chin Chui Ling, 43, were found guilty by the Penang High Court for the manslaughter of their maid.

High Court Justice Zamani Abdul Rahim had in May 2013 sentenced the couple to 24 years in jail each for manslaughter of Cambodian maid Mey Sichan, 24.

The maid only weighed 26.1kg when she was rescued after seven months working at their house.