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Melbourne couple charged with slavery and abuse of an Indonesian woman

2 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

A Melbourne couple, Chee Kit Chong and Angi Yeh Ling Liaw, are on trial for allegedly enslaving an Indonesian woman in their Point Cook home from early 2022 until she escaped in October. The woman, a pastor in Malaysia who moved to Australia with the couple in 2017, was allegedly subjected to severe abuse including beatings, sleep and food deprivation, and forced labor. Chong reportedly controlled her movements, restricted her access to basic needs, and demanded she work off a supposed debt after accusing her of financial misconduct. The woman’s injuries—including malnutrition, swelling, and lacerations—were documented at St Vincent’s Hospital before she fled. Both defendants deny the charges, with Chong’s lawyer arguing her contributions were typical of a family household. The couple’s past actions, such as leaving the woman homeless in Malaysia for four years without informing her, further highlight her vulnerability. The trial, which began in Victoria’s County Court, continues as prosecutors build a case of intentional slavery and assault.

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Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • Chee Kit ‘Max’ Chong and Angi Yeh Ling Liaw are facing trial in Victoria’s County Court for slavery-related offences, both pleading not guilty
  • The alleged victim was a 61-year-old Indonesian woman who lived with the couple in their Point Cook, Melbourne home from January 2022 until she ‘ran away’ in October 2022
  • The woman was allegedly subjected to beatings, restrictions on food, sleep, and movement, and forced to perform domestic tasks including cooking, cleaning, and massaging Chong’s legs
  • Chong allegedly told the woman she could leave if she paid a million dollars, otherwise she had to stay
  • The woman presented to St Vincent’s Hospital in October 2022 with injuries including a swollen ear, laceration to the foot, leg swelling, and malnutrition indicators
  • The couple first met the woman in Malaysia in 2015 when she was a pastor at Chong’s church, and she later moved to Melbourne with them in 2017
  • The couple allegedly left the woman homeless in Malaysia for four years (2017–2021) without informing her they had returned to Melbourne
  • The woman’s death in 2024 is unrelated to the case
  • The trial is before Judge Michael Cahill and expected to run for several weeks

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

NEWSCOMAAU
  • Prosecutor Shaun Ginsbourg SC explicitly stated the woman described the relationship as ‘He’s a master, I’m a maid. I’m a helper only’
  • The woman was initially given a bedroom but later forced to sleep on the stairs or in the garage
  • Chong allegedly told the woman she could not sleep or eat on days she failed to meet his expectations
  • The woman’s injuries were identified by St Vincent’s Hospital staff, who called AFP after her allegations
  • Ms Liaw’s defence lawyer (Daniel Gurvich KC) stated there was ‘very little evidence’ related to his client
  • The prosecutor mentioned the woman had to borrow money from her family and church members to help Chong due to his financial problems
ABC News
  • The ABC article includes a photograph of Chong and Liaw leaving the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday, with captions from AAP
  • The ABC article explicitly states the woman was beaten and deprived of food, with additional detail about being locked in the garage
  • The ABC article notes Chong allegedly hit the woman with a vacuum cleaner after she fell asleep during a leg massage
  • The ABC article includes a quote from Chong’s defence lawyer (Diana Price) emphasizing the woman’s contributions were ‘nothing different to what you might expect in a family of three adults and two children’
  • The ABC article mentions the woman’s injuries were noted by local medical clinics and a hospital in the final months of her ordeal

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • NEWSCOMAU reports the woman was initially given a bedroom but later forced to sleep on the stairs or in the garage, while ABC does not specify this initial bedroom detail
  • NEWSCOMAU states the woman was accused of causing an issue around Chong’s work credit card, but ABC does not mention this credit card allegation explicitly
  • NEWSCOMAU’s prosecutor describes the woman as having died for reasons unconnected to the case, while ABC does not provide additional context on the cause of death beyond it being unrelated
  • ABC includes a specific detail about Chong allegedly hitting the woman with a vacuum cleaner, which is not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU
  • NEWSCOMAU’s prosecutor mentions the woman had to borrow money from her family and church members to help Chong, a detail not included in ABC

Source Articles

NEWSCOMAU

Family kept woman as slave: court

A woman was allegedly beaten and had restrictions placed on her sleep and food consumption as she worked as a slave in a Melbourne home, a jury has been told....

31 March 2026
ABC

Melbourne couple allegedly beat and starved woman enslaved in their home

A court has heard an Indonesian woman was allegedly threatened and coerced to provide domestic services while living with a Melbourne couple....

31 March 2026