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Leopold Chen

A domestic helper has been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of child neglect after a 23-month-old girl in her care suffered second-degree burns to her hands, according to the child’s mother.
Police said on Thursday that a foreign woman, 30, had been arrested the previous day after a man reported that his daughter had been scalded by hot water and suspected that she had been ill-treated.
The girl remained in Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment and observation, police added.
The woman was expected to appear at Tuen Mun Court on Friday for a mention hearing, while a criminal investigation team in Yuen Long was handling the case, according to police.
The incident occurred while the helper was caring for the 23-month-old girl and her three-year-old brother at their Yuen Long home and their parents were at work, a source said.
The helper allegedly took the girl to the bathroom to separate the two children and prevent them from hurting each other.
“The arrestee claimed that she was preparing warm water for the victim to play with, but the victim put her hand into the sink before she could test the water temperature, causing the injuries,” the source said.
In a Facebook post, the girl’s mother said a doctor had diagnosed her daughter with second-degree burns. She said the skin on the child’s hands had turned red and that bruises were also found on her forehead.

The mother said home surveillance footage showed the helper bringing ice into the bathroom at 2.58pm, but not calling her until 3.18pm.
“[The helper] told me she was cooking and my daughter touched the pot by herself when she went to the bathroom. But surveillance camera footage showed she had never cooked, and this was completely a lie,” she said.
She added that the helper gave a different account to police, saying she had needed to use the toilet and had taken the child with her to the bathroom, where the girl turned on the hot-water tap and scalded herself.
“But the child is only 78cm tall and could not reach the tap by herself. This is another lie,” the mother said.
According to her post, the Indonesian helper had worked for the family since March 30 this year.
Under Hong Kong law, child neglect carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment upon conviction after trial, or three years’ imprisonment upon summary conviction.


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Law and Crime

Source says helper claimed the girl put her hand into a sink before she could test the water temperature, but child’s mother calls account a lie


Source says helper claimed the girl put her hand into a sink before she could test the water temperature, but child’s mother calls account a lie.


Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Crime

Hong Kong society

Domestic helper arrested after girl scalded by hot water in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Source says helper claimed the girl put her hand into a sink before she could test the water temperature, but child’s mother calls account a lie

Source says helper claimed the girl put her hand into a sink before she could test the water temperature, but child’s mother calls account a lie