Split Verdict in Victorian Slavery Trial
Chee Kit "Max" Chong found guilty of intentionally possessing a slave and assault; wife Angie Yeh Liaw acquitted
The case concerned the treatment of a 61-year-old Indonesian woman who lived with the couple between January and October 2022.
The Victorian County Court has delivered split verdicts in the case of Chee Kit "Max" Chong and Angie Yeh Liaw. Chong was found guilty of intentionally possessing a slave and assault, while Liaw was acquitted of assisting in the offense.
Trial and Verdict
Chee Kit Chong, 47, was found guilty by a jury on charges of intentionally possessing a slave and one count of assault. He was acquitted on two other assault charges. The offenses occurred between February and October 2022.
Judge Michael Cahill directed the jury to find Angie Yeh Liaw not guilty, ruling there was no case to answer. The 32-year-old had been charged with assisting or encouraging her husband in the alleged offense. The judge determined that evidence did not support the charge that Liaw assisted in controlling the victim.
Both defendants had entered not guilty pleas to all charges.
The Victim and Background
The victim was a 61-year-old Indonesian citizen who first met Chong in Malaysia in 2015. The court heard their relationship was initially described as "mother-son," and the woman had served as a pastor at a church in Malaysia. She moved to Australia in 2017 on a tourist visa and resided with Chong and Liaw.
According to court testimony, the couple returned to Malaysia without informing the woman in 2018, leading to her experiencing homelessness for approximately four years. In 2021, the couple contacted her, offering a one-month work opportunity at their Point Cook home. She moved in with them in January or February 2022 to assist with the household and care for Liaw's second child.
The victim died in April 2024 at age 63. The court stated her death was unrelated to the offenses.
Her 2022 police interview was played at trial.
Prosecution Allegations and Evidence
Prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg SC alleged that Chong exercised significant control over the victim's life. The prosecution claimed that Chong attributed the loss of a company credit card to the woman and informed her she needed to work to repay this purported debt.
Allegations included:
- The woman performed unpaid domestic services, including cleaning, childcare, and massaging Chong's legs
- She was restricted in access to food and sometimes allowed only Weet-Bix
- She was denied medical care and had limited contact with the outside world
- She was forced to sleep on stairs or in the garage
- Chong kicked her in the face, hit her with a vacuum cleaner shaft, and smashed her head through a wall
- Her movements, sleep, and food were controlled
- Medical clinics and a hospital documented various injuries during her final months with the couple
The prosecution argued that the woman's unlawful immigration status, homelessness, lack of independent income, and isolation from family rendered her vulnerable to exploitation.
The woman escaped from the couple's home in October 2022 after a nurse reported the situation to federal police, initiating an investigation.
Defense Arguments
Chong's barrister, Diana Price, denied all allegations of assault and possessing a slave. She stated that the victim may have reasons to exaggerate or make untruthful statements.
Price argued that the woman was treated like a family member and completed household tasks out of moral duty. She suggested the actions might constitute elder abuse or family violence but not slavery. Chong told police he offered the woman accommodation due to her homelessness. He provided explanations for her injuries, including diabetes, falls, and an assault by homeless individuals. He denied starving or hitting the woman, stating she fell by herself more than 20 times outside their home.
"The actions might constitute elder abuse or family violence but not slavery." — Defense argument
Liaw's barrister, Daniel Gurvich KC, argued there was insufficient evidence to convict his client. Liaw told police she and Chong encountered the woman on the streets of Melbourne and offered assistance due to her homelessness. She denied restricting the woman's access to food.
Charges and Sentencing
The slavery charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years' imprisonment. Chong has been taken into custody. A pre-sentence hearing is scheduled for next month.