A former Indonesian domestic worker had a legal victory in the High Court on Thursday – stopping her former employer from transferring property in a bid to avoid paying compensation over a case of abuse.
A lawyer for Indonesian maid Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, 25, blocked Law Wan-tung, her 46-year-old former employer, who was jailed for six years in 2015 for abuse, from transferring Law’s half share of an apartment in Tseung Kwan O in the New Territories valued at HK$7.65 million (US$978,511) to her separated husband, Sing Pao reported.
The transfer took place days before Law was sentenced. Erwiana then discovered the transfer and filed a lawsuit against Law and her husband, accusing the couple of trying to reduce Law’s assets, which could be used for compensation of about HK$810,000 in damages she was seeking.
The High Court on Thursday voided the transaction, ruling that Law disposed of the property with an intent to “defraud” Erwiana and delay execution of another High Court ruling, which ordered Law to compensate the maid for damages, Radio Television Hong Kong reported.
Recorder of the Court of First Instance, Stewart Wong Kai-ming also said in a written judgment that he was not convinced by Law’s argument that the transfer was only meant to effect a separation.
Law was also ordered to shoulder all the legal costs.
Read: Jailed boss of abused maid Erwiana denies compensation dodge
Read: Abused maid seeks to void property deal by former boss