KUALA LUMPUR – A Melbourne court has heard allegations that an Indonesian woman was subjected to beatings, food deprivation, and forced to sleep on stairs or in a garage while living as a “slave” for a couple identified as Malaysian nationals.
ABC News reported that the Victorian County Court this week began the criminal trial of Chee Kit Chong and Angie Yeh Liaw, who have both pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Chong knowingly exploited the woman as a slave, while Ms Liaw is accused of assisting or encouraging the offence.
According to the prosecution, the woman initially agreed to stay with the couple at their Point Cook home for a month in early 2022 while Ms Liaw gave birth.
The arrangement allegedly changed after Chong accused her of losing a company credit card, telling her she had to work off the supposed debt.
Prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg S.C. told the court:
“Mr Chong threatened and coerced [the alleged victim] to provide domestic services. He repeatedly told her she had to work to repay supposed debts. And when [the victim] failed to meet Mr Chong’s expectations … they would punish her by assaulting her, also by depriving her of sleep and food.”
The court heard that the woman was made to perform household chores, including cleaning, washing dishes, and massaging Mr Chong’s legs. On one occasion, she was allegedly struck with a vacuum cleaner after falling asleep during a massage.
Prosecutors also claimed she was punished by being forced to stand all night, denied food, or locked in the garage.
“He would often hit or kick her. He would also punish her by telling her she could not sleep or eat that day. Chong dictated [the alleged victim’s] access to food and facilities,” Mr Ginsbourg added.
The woman had moved to Australia on a tourist visa in 2017 after forming a close relationship with Chong in Malaysia, where she had served as a pastor. Prosecutors allege the couple later left her in Australia without notice, leaving her homeless for several years. When they reconnected in 2021, they offered her work, but Mr Chong allegedly treated her “as if he owned” her.
“On one occasion, he told her if she paid a million dollars she could leave,” Ginsbourg said.
The defence denied several allegations, including claims of abuse, food and sleep deprivation, and the credit card incident.
“There may be reasons [the complainant] may exaggerate or embellish or say things that are untruthful,” Chong’s lawyer Diana Price said.
The alleged abuse came to light after medical staff noted her injuries and a nurse reported the matter to authorities. Police later investigated, during which Chong denied forcing her to work and attributed her injuries to illness and external assaults. Liaw also denied restricting her access to food.
Her time with the couple ended in October 2022 following police intervention. The trial continues despite her passing in 2024, which prosecutors say is connected to the case. – March 31, 2026
