Melbourne Man Sentenced to Prison for Keeping Woman in Modern Slavery
In a disturbing case of human exploitation, 47-year-old Malaysian national Chee Kit Chong has been sentenced to six years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years, for the systematic abuse and enslavement of an Indonesian woman. Following this Breaking development, the County Court heard that between February and October 2022, Chong held the victim in his Point Cook home, forcing her into domestic servitude while subjecting her to starvation, physical assault, and psychological control. Judge Michael Cahill described the offender’s actions as “callous and cruel,” noting that Chong treated the vulnerable woman, who was in her 60s, as mere property.
The court was presented with harrowing details of the victim’s ordeal, which included physical bashings, sleep deprivation, and the denial of basic medical care. While the woman managed to escape in October 2022, she was discovered by police in a severely malnourished state with visible injuries, including bruising, a swollen ear, and a foot laceration. Tragically, the victim—who cannot be identified due to legal protections—passed away from natural causes in 2024. Judge Cahill emphasized that Chong had exploited a woman who had previously treated him with maternal kindness. Following his sentence, Chong, who showed no emotion during the hearing, is expected to face deportation to Malaysia upon his release.
This Alert serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of modern slavery within domestic settings. Detective Superintendent Ray Imbriano of the Australian Federal Police stated that the conviction underscores the force’s commitment to combating human exploitation, noting that such offenses frequently occur behind closed doors in ordinary communities. Chong’s co-accused, his wife Angie Liaw, was acquitted of all charges earlier this year. With the sentencing concluded, authorities reiterate that the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for personal gain remains a severe federal crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
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