‘Modern Slavery in Our Own Backyard’: Melbourne Man Jailed for Forcing Indonesian Woman into Domestic Servitude and Brutal Assault
- A Melbourne man has been sentenced to a minimum of four years in prison for keeping an Indonesian woman as a slave and brutally assaulting her.
- The 47-year-old Malaysian national, Chee Kit Chong, forced the woman into domestic servitude, starved her, and bashed her repeatedly in his Point Cook home.
- The victim, who cannot be named, was left malnourished and injured, with a swollen ear and leg, a cut on her foot, and bruising near her eye.
- Chong’s wife, Angie Liaw, was acquitted of charges related to the slavery offences, but the court heard she was aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it.
In a shocking case of modern slavery in Melbourne’s west, Chee Kit Chong has been jailed for his brutal treatment of an Indonesian woman who was forced into domestic servitude.
The 47-year-old Malaysian national was found guilty of intentionally possessing a slave and assault, and has been sentenced to a minimum of four years behind bars.
According to the court, Chong bashed and starved the woman, aged in her 60s, between February and October 2022, while she lived with him and his family in their Point Cook home.
He controlled her movements, deprived her of sleep, and denied her proper medical care and food.
The court heard that Chong admonished the woman over text message if she did not perform her work to his standards, and “hit her for the smallest mistake”.
The woman, who cannot be named due to laws protecting victims of slavery crimes, was left malnourished and injured, with a swollen ear and leg, a cut on her foot, and bruising near her eye.
She was forced to request crackers and other small food items from a local charity to eat because they were “easy to hide” from Chong.
The court heard that Chong told friends that he was paying the woman up to $5,000 per month for her work, which was untrue.
In reality, the woman was forced to borrow money from her relatives back in Indonesia and from an op-shop she worked at to help Chong pay rent and hospital bills.
Chong’s wife, Angie Liaw, was initially charged with helping him keep the woman as a slave, but her charges were dropped during the six-week trial earlier this year.
The court heard that Liaw was aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
This case highlights the shocking reality of modern slavery in Australia. According to the Australian Federal Police, human trafficking and modern slavery offences strip victims of their freedom, dignity, and basic human rights.
The AFP’s Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano said, “These crimes can occur within our own communities, often behind closed doors.”
Security analysts say that this case demonstrates the need for increased awareness and education about modern slavery in Australia. “It’s a wake-up call for all of us to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity,” said one analyst.
Law enforcement insiders warn that modern slavery is a growing problem in Australia, with many cases going unreported. “We need to do more to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable,” said one insider.
The case also raises questions about the effectiveness of Australia’s laws and policies in preventing modern slavery. Industry observers believe that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable workers and prevent exploitation.
As Chong begins his sentence, the Australian community is left to grapple with the reality of modern slavery in our own backyard. It’s a stark reminder that we need to do more to prevent these heinous crimes and support those affected by them.
modern slavery human trafficking Australian Federal Police