Indonesian Helper Arrested for Murder of 93-Year-Old Woman in Kai Tak

Arrest at Tak Tin Estate

A 52-year-old Indonesian domestic worker was arrested for murder following the death of a 93-year-old woman she cared for in a 150-square-foot public housing flat at Tak Tin Estate in Kai Tak, Yahoo News reported. Police detained the worker after relatives reviewed closed-circuit television footage from the apartment and discovered that the elderly resident had been repeatedly assaulted.

The victim, a 93-year-old woman with the surname Kwan, lived alone in the flat at Tak Yiu House. Her husband died approximately 30 years ago, and the couple had no children. Kwan managed multiple chronic health conditions, including “three highs”, alongside a diagnosis of colorectal cancer and a stroke in 2022 that severely limited her mobility. Because she required round-the-clock assistance, her family hired the Indonesian worker in January 2023.

The 7-Minute Assault Caught on Camera

Emergency responders arrived at Tak Yiu House on the morning of October 11, 2026, after the worker notified a building security guard that Kwan was unresponsive. Paramedics transported Kwan to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:12 a.m.

Relatives examined the home security footage later that evening. The video showed the worker striking Kwan’s head, neck, and face more than 20 times within a seven-minute window between 8:03 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. on October 11. The footage also captured the worker stepping on the elderly woman’s abdomen with her foot and moving her body roughly while Kwan was lying in bed. Police later stated that the worker attempted to revive Kwan by feeding her water and patting her face after she lost consciousness, prior to seeking help from building security.

Employers Often Buy Out Weekly Rest Days

Sources familiar with the investigation indicated that the arrested worker received only half a day off each week, working six and a half days weekly. Lilian Law, chairwoman of the Human Resources Agencies Association, told hk01.com in a telephone interview that while labor regulations mandate one rest day per week, employers and domestic helpers frequently agree to financial compensation in lieu of that day off.

Law stated that statutory holidays cannot be replaced by monetary payments under the law. However, weekly rest days are routinely bought out through mutual agreement. Many newly arrived workers or those facing hot weather prefer staying indoors rather than going out without acquaintances, while employers willingly pay extra wages to secure continuous household assistance. The government adjusted the statutory minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers to HK$5,220 per month starting October 3, 2026.

Ongoing Police Investigation

Officers from the Sau Mau Ping District Crime Squad took over the investigation. Investigators reviewing extended footage discovered that the intermittent assaults appeared to have occurred over the preceding half-month period. Law enforcement formally arrested the 52-year-old worker for murder in the early hours of October 12, 2026. An autopsy and forensic examinations remain pending to establish the exact cause of death.