Photo Credit: Grace Baey (www.gracebaey.com)
This website exists as a repository of information about Parti Liyani’s case.
On 4 September 2020, Ms Parti Liyani, who had worked in Singapore as a migrant domestic worker for almost 20 years, was acquitted of four charges of theft. On 8 September 2020, a fifth charge against her (under Section 35(1) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order & Nuisance) Act, Chapter 184) was dropped, and Parti was finally free.
For almost four years, Parti has fought to prove her innocence. This battle to clear her name led to a State Court trial that stretched over nine months, and included 22 days in court. In March 2019, Parti Liyani was sentenced by District Judge Olivia Low to 26 months in prison. Parti decided to appeal against this decision at the High Court. The High Court appeal was held over three days and stretched from November 2019 to August 2020. The High Court appeal was presided over by Justice Chan Seng Onn, who acquitted Parti of all four charges. In his judgement, Justice Chan stated the following in his conclusion: "In the above circumstances, I allow Parti’s appeal against all four charges against her. I first observe that in the present case, which involved a voluminous number of items, the proper handling of the evidence by the police and recording of the allegedly stolen items is crucial in order to preserve the chain of custody of the items. Coupled with the existence of an improper motive by members of the Liew family for mounting the allegations against Parti, I find that the convictions against Parti are unsafe and accordingly acquit her of all the charges." Parti has been represented by criminal lawyer, Anil Balchandani of Red Lion Circle, who has acted pro bono for Parti over the last three years. |