Indonesian caregiver receives jail term for abandonment

Taipei, April 24 (CNA) An Indonesian caregiver hired to look after an elderly woman in Taiwan more than seven years ago was convicted of abandonment Wednesday and will be expelled after serving a six-month jail term or paying a NT$180,000 (US$5,830) fine, according to the Taiwan Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court made the ruling after rejecting an appeal filed by the caregiver, identified as Wen Wen, against a High Court verdict that found her guilty of abandonment.

According to the High Court's indictment, Wen Wen was found guilty after being accused by her employer, surnamed Kao, of maltreating his mother when serving as her caregiver.

Wen Wen was hired by Kao to take care of his mother, then aged more than 90 years old, at his home from Nov.18, 2011 to Feb. 3 2013.

However, Wen Wen ran away from Kao's home on Dec. 14, 2011 -- just 27 day into her service -- after tying the mother to a wheelchair, knowing that she was suffering from Parkinson's disease and dementia, the indictment said.

The elderly woman was found tied to the wheelchair when Kao rushed home after his telephone calls to the carer went unanswered.

Wen Wen, who went into hiding and was not arrested until 2017, argued that she fled from Kao's home because his mother frequently bit and beat her. She also claimed to have called Kao and the labor broker before leaving the residence, but the High Court rejected her account.

The High Court gave her a six-month sentence, which can be commuted to a fine, and ruled that she must be expelled after serving the jail term or paying the fine in full.