Second maid fined for fighting with rival domestic helpers over TikTok videos

SINGAPORE: A second maid has been fined S$1,000 (US$764) by a court over a fight among domestic helpers near Paya Lebar MRT Station, which went viral online.
Maesaroh, a 35-year-old Indonesian, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Sep 17) to one count of affray between two rival groups of maids.
The first group comprises Maesaroh and her friend, co-accused Sriani, who was the first to plead guilty and was similarly fined S$1,000 last month.
Sriani lost her work permit after her conviction.
The second group of Indonesian maids comprise Sulastri, 44, Siti Rukayah, 47, and Nita Widia Rahayu, 34.
The fight, which took place on May 19, came after Sriani posted videos on TikTok insulting Sulastri.
Sriani consumed alcohol at a party at about 11am that day and fell asleep at about 2pm near a corner beside the Budget Value Shop at Paya Lebar Square.
The rival group comprising Sulastri, Siti, Nita and others were at a gathering at Tanjong Katong Complex when Siti suggested going to Paya Lebar Square to confront Sriani over the TikTok post.
At about 2.40pm, they found Sriani sleeping and Sulastri kicked her hand, waking her up.
After a heated argument between the two groups of maids, they began fighting and drew a crowd of about 50 onlookers.
A member of the public called the police and the maids were later arrested.
Maesaroh was unrepresented and had nothing to say in mitigation. She paid her fine in full.
The Manpower Ministry told CNA after Sriani’s sentencing that work pass holders, including migrant domestic workers, who contravene Singapore’s laws will have their work passes revoked and barred from working in Singapore.
Sulastri and Siti were supposed to plead guilty on Tuesday but were granted further adjournments to October as they were waiting to see if they can get representation under Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS).
Nita is set to plead guilty on Oct 9. She indicated that her CLAS application was rejected, and that her employer was not getting a lawyer for her.
The penalty for affray is a jail term of up to a year, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.