A domestic helper has been sentenced to eight weeks in jail after a violent altercation with her 94-year-old employer resulted in the elder man suffering a head injury. Sulastri Wulandari, an Indonesian national, pleaded guilty to causing hurt through a rash act, leading to her conviction on August 14. The incident occurred in February 2026 in a Telok Blangah Housing Board flat, where Sulastri and her employer were the sole residents and shared separate bedrooms. The dispute began late at night when the elderly victim, who required assistance with daily tasks, knocked on Sulastri’s bedroom door at approximately 10.40pm, requesting her company for a meal. She opened the door, informed him he had already eaten, and promptly closed it again. Moments later, the victim retrieved his walking stick from the living room and began striking Sulastri’s bedroom door for about 10 seconds. When Sulastri finally opened the door, she encountered the victim holding the walking stick. In response, she seized the stick, attempting to remove it from his grasp while simultaneously pushing him backward. This led to a physical struggle lasting roughly 20 seconds, during which the victim clung to the stick. During the confrontation, the elderly man lost his balance and fell backward, colliding with the wall behind him. He sustained a head injury, beginning to bleed from the wound. Sulastri immediately attended to him and notified his nephew at around 11.20pm about the fall. The nephew swiftly arrived at the scene and called for emergency services. The victim was transported to Singapore General Hospital, where he remained under care from February 22 to February 25. Medical professionals documented a 2cm laceration on his scalp and identified signs of a subdural haemorrhage, a condition involving blood accumulation between the brain and the skull. The case came to light following Sulastri’s arrest on July 29, shortly after the incident. Prosecutors argued that the victim’s injuries constituted substantial harm, citing his advanced age and physical limitations. Deputy Public Prosecutor Andrew Chia emphasized that the victim, though frail, was capable of engaging in the scuffle and was reliant on Sulastri for basic necessities such as leaving his home. The prosecution highlighted Sulastri’s breach of trust, as she was entrusted with caring for the vulnerable individual, and noted her lack of legal representation as a factor influencing the sentencing. Despite the severity of the charges, Sulastri expressed remorse and requested leniency. Her actions, while reckless, were deemed less severe due to her early admission of guilt and cooperation with authorities. Under the law, causing harm to a vulnerable person can result in significantly harsher penalties, potentially doubling the maximum sentence. However, the court opted for a reduced term of eight weeks in prison, acknowledging her willingness to accept responsibility. The incident underscores the complex dynamics within caregiving relationships, particularly in situations where power imbalances exist. Surveillance footage from the premises played a crucial role in documenting the events, providing clear evidence of the altercation. As the case illustrates, even in moments of tension, the consequences can be severe, especially when individuals are in positions of mutual dependence.
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