Witness Testifies About Alleged Slave’s Condition
A nurse working for a non-profit healthcare organisation has provided testimony to a jury regarding the moment an alleged slave sought medical assistance. Michelle Richards was the first witness in the trial of Chee Kit ‘Max’ Chong and his wife Angi Yeh Ling Liaw, who are accused of keeping a woman as a slave in Melbourne in 2022.
Mr Chong has pleaded not guilty to intentionally possessing a slave and three counts of common assault, while Ms Liaw has denied any involvement in the alleged slavery offence. Ms Richards described her experience working as a clinical care co-ordinator for Cohealth in Laverton, located in the city’s outer southwest, on August 29, 2022.
She recalled arriving at work around 8:30am and noticing a woman of “Asian-descent” sitting on a bench outside the community centre. Later that morning, she saw the woman in a clinical room and observed that she appeared “unshowered” and was wearing several layers of clothing.
“She advised me she was wearing everything she possessed at the time,” the nurse said. The woman shared that she had overstayed her tourist visa and had been homeless for a period before residing with a family in Point Cook. She mentioned providing support to the family by cooking, cleaning, and caring for children in exchange for shelter.
Ms Richards noted that the woman claimed she was not allowed to leave the house and had been assaulted by the family, although she believed it was “her fault.” During the consultation, the nurse observed multiple injuries on the woman.
“She was very withdrawn and didn’t disclose a lot of detail about the assaults,” the nurse said. “She had stated that she hit her head into a wall. From my recollection, she didn’t disclose a specific individual that had done that to her.”
When questioned by prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg SC about whether the woman described what led to the assaults, Ms Richards said she couldn’t recall. “She just said she deserved it … there was no specifics given,” she said. “She made reference to the fact she was not able to do what she had previously done because of her health.”
Ms Richards also testified that the woman had been dropped outside the centre at 6:30am by “someone” on their way to work. On Tuesday, prosecutors outlined their case against the accused couple, alleging that the woman had been kept in a state of slavery after moving into their Point Cook home in February 2022 until she “ran away” in October that year.
Mr Ginsbourg stated that it was alleged Mr Chong “heavily controlled” the woman’s life, including her movement and access to welfare and food. “When (the woman) failed in her duties or failed to complete them to Mr Chong’s satisfaction, he would often hit or kick her,” he alleged. “He would also punish her, including by telling her that she could not sleep or eat that day.”
The jury was told that the woman initially moved into the couple’s home for one month to help after Ms Laiw gave birth to their second child, but was later told she could not leave until she worked off “supposed debts.” “By doing what he did, Mr Chong acted as if he owned [the woman],” Mr Ginsbourg said. “On one occasion, he told her that if she paid a million dollars, she could leave, but otherwise she had to stay.”
The jury heard that the woman died in April 2024 due to reasons unrelated to the case.
Lawyers representing both Mr Chong and Ms Laiw denied allegations of violence, coercion, and mistreatment of the woman. They stated that while it was not disputed that the woman lived with the couple between February and October, it was denied that she was a slave or ever forced to do anything.
In her opening address, Diana Price, representing Mr Chong, asked jurors to consider whether the woman’s contributions to the house were anything different from what might be expected in a family of three adults and two children.
Ms Richards is expected to continue her testimony when the trial resumes on April 8 following the Easter long weekend.
