Filipina domestic helper arrested over saliva in child’s food
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police arrested a 37-year-old Filipina domestic helper on Friday morning after a woman reported that her four-year-old daughter had allegedly been improperly treated at their home in The Belcher’s, 89 Pok Fu Lam Road, Kennedy Town. The suspect was held on suspicion of ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of a child or young person, and the case was assigned to the West District crime squad’s Team 4 for follow-up. The girl had no visible injuries and did not need hospital treatment. Reports citing sources said the employer checked home CCTV footage and found the helper had spat suspected saliva or phlegm into the child’s milk or food on several occasions between October 31 and November 5.
Key Points
- Police received the report at about 9:28am on November 6 from a woman at The Belcher’s, 89 Pok Fu Lam Road, alleging improper treatment of her four-year-old daughter.
- Officers arrested a 37-year-old Filipina domestic helper for suspected ill-treatment or neglect of a child or young person, and she remained in custody for investigation.
- According to HK01, the mother reviewed home surveillance footage and found at least four incidents from October 31 to November 5
- The footage allegedly showed the helper preparing milk in the kitchen, spitting suspected phlegm into a cup, and then giving it to the girl to drink
- The child lived with her parents and eight-year-old brother, and the household reportedly employed two Filipina domestic helpers; no previous child abuse incident had occurred there
Why It Matters
The case is likely to intensify concern among Hong Kong families who rely on live-in domestic helpers for childcare, especially where very young children cannot easily describe mistreatment themselves. It also underlines the legal and safeguarding consequences when suspected abuse inside a private home is documented and reported to police.