TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent
theAsianparent
Product Guide
  • Together Against RSV
  • SG60
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • Child
  • Feeding & Nutrition
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Holiday Hub
  • Aptamil
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP
Login
    • Articles
  • Together Against RSVTogether Against RSV
  • SG60SG60
  • PregnancyPregnancy
  • ParentingParenting
  • ChildChild
  • Feeding & NutritionFeeding & Nutrition
  • EducationEducation
  • LifestyleLifestyle
  • EventsEvents
  • Holiday HubHoliday Hub
  • AptamilAptamil
  • TAP RecommendsTAP Recommends
  • ShoppingShopping
  • Press ReleasesPress Releases
  • Project SidekicksProject Sidekicks
  • CommunityCommunity
  • Advertise With UsAdvertise With Us
  • Contact UsContact Us
  • VIPVIP
    • Community
  • Poll
  • Photos
  • Food
  • Recipes
  • Topics
  • Read Articles
    • Tracker
  • Pregnancy Tracker
  • Baby Tracker
    • Rewards
  • RewardsRewards
  • Contests
  • VIP ParentsVIP Parents
    • More
  • Feedback

Privacy PolicyCommunity GuidelinesSitemap HTML

Download our free app

google play store
app store

Singapore maid adds disinfectant into cereal, gets jailed

15 Aug, 2017
Singapore maid adds disinfectant into cereal, gets jailed

A Singapore maid got jailed for adding disinfectant into cereal, knowing that it could harm the health of the victim...

It seems, she was fed up of all the nagging she had to hear every day, so this Singapore maid decided to get even.

Singapore maid adds disinfectant into cereal

In April this year, Mya Thet Wai, from Myanmar, decided she had had enough of her employer’s mother-in-law’s nagging and wanted to leave. The maid had been working for the household from January this year.

That morning, the mother-in-law Madam Toh Sew Keok, had made a cereal drink for herself, and kept it in the kitchen, covered with a lid. She then proceeded to feed her 7-month-old grandchild in another room.

While she was busy feeding the baby, the maid added some Dettol disinfectant into Madam Toh’s cereal and quietly put the lid back. 

After some time, Madam Toh asked the maid to take care of the baby while she had bread. In between, she drank from the cup; she immediately spat out the drink, and rinsed her mouth multiple times realising that something was wrong.

When confronted, the maid denied any wrongdoing. Madam Toh immediately informed the matter to her daughter-in-law.

When Mya Thet Wai’s employer returned home later, CCTV footage was viewed and the truth came out in the open. Police was called. The maid then confessed to her mistake, claiming that she did so because she was tired of the incessant nagging, and also because she did not want to continue working for the employers.

Apparently, she hoped that by mixing Dettol into the drink, she would be punished by being sent back to Myanmar. 

According to The Straits Times, on Monday (Aug 14), Mya Thet Wai, 24, was sentenced to 5 months of jail for adding disinfectant into cereal, knowing that it could harm the health of the victim. Thankfully, the victim was unharmed.

How can we have a healthy and trustworthy relationship with our maids? Here are some tips:

  • Choose a reputable maid agency when hiring a maid: Check out the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s website for maid agencies. Choose agencies with no demerit points.

Filter using these parameters – Agency Experience (preferably > 5 years), FDW Placement Volume (> 200), FDW Retention success rate (>50) and FDW Transfer rate (0 – 10).

In case of a transfer maid, do not hesitate to contact the previous employer to better understand the the maid’s nature and the reason for transfer.

  • Lay out the rules : Right from the beginning, your maid should be aware of the house rules. Be specific about house rules, such as work that needs to be completed everyday, use of handphone etc.
  • Don’t overload your maid: Many a time, the maid vents her frustrations and insists on returning home, because she’s too stressed out with work. Sit with your maid, and make sure she’s comfortable with the tasks at hand.

Discuss on a timetable that you can follow daily. Make sure that she is healthy, and has enough sleep and energy for all her tasks.

  • Communication and training : Wherever possible, write down specific instructions to be followed, and put it up on the wall, or on the fridge.

You might even want to take some time off work to train your maid in the initial days, until she gets used to your home environment. Teach her how exactly to take care of your child or your elderly parents.

  • CCTV camera helps : If you really want eyes on the house when you are not around, get CCTV cameras installed in vulnerable areas. 

Also READ: Singapore mum checks maids phone. What she found was shocking!

(Source: The Straits Times)

Partner Stories
A New Era of Early Education Begins as Amber Unveils Singapore’s School of the Future
A New Era of Early Education Begins as Amber Unveils Singapore’s School of the Future
Comfort, Care, and Confidence for New Mums  with PEM Confinement Nannies
Comfort, Care, and Confidence for New Mums with PEM Confinement Nannies
Relax & Recover with PNSG Postnatal Massage
Relax & Recover with PNSG Postnatal Massage
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jaya

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • Singapore maid adds disinfectant into cereal, gets jailed
Share:
  • A New Era of Early Education Begins as Amber Unveils Singapore’s School of the Future
    Partner Stories

    A New Era of Early Education Begins as Amber Unveils Singapore’s School of the Future

  • From Discomfort to Relief: Managing Haemorrhoids During and After Pregnancy

    From Discomfort to Relief: Managing Haemorrhoids During and After Pregnancy

  • South Korea’s Classroom Phone Ban: What Singaporean Parents Should Know

    South Korea’s Classroom Phone Ban: What Singaporean Parents Should Know

  • A New Era of Early Education Begins as Amber Unveils Singapore’s School of the Future
    Partner Stories

    A New Era of Early Education Begins as Amber Unveils Singapore’s School of the Future

  • From Discomfort to Relief: Managing Haemorrhoids During and After Pregnancy

    From Discomfort to Relief: Managing Haemorrhoids During and After Pregnancy

  • South Korea’s Classroom Phone Ban: What Singaporean Parents Should Know

    South Korea’s Classroom Phone Ban: What Singaporean Parents Should Know

Feed

Feed

Get tailored articles about parenting, lifestyle, expert opinions right at your fingertips

Poll

Poll

Participate in interesting polls and see what other parents think!

Photos

Photos

Share the photos of loved ones in a safe, secure manner.

Topics

Topics

Join communities to bond with fellow mums and dads.

Tracker

Tracker

Track your pregnancy as well as baby’s development day-by-day!

theAsianparent

Download our free app

Google PlayApp Store

Mums around the world

Singapore flag
Singapore
Thailand flag
Thailand
Indonesia flag
Indonesia
Philippines flag
Philippines
Malaysia flag
Malaysia
Vietnam flag
Vietnam

Partner Brands

Rumah123VIP ParentsMama's ChoiceTAP Awards

© Copyright theAsianparent 2026 . All rights reserved

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it