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SEEKING DAMAGES: SIA stewardess Then Jiamin is suing Madam Tan Siew Hoon (above) seen here with husband Wong Ngit Leong, for allegedly hitting her when she was serving Mr Wong during a flight to Tokyo. -- PHOTO: ERNST AND YOUNG
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A SINGAPORE Airlines stewardess is suing the wife of a top manufacturing executive after claiming that the woman slapped her during a flight last year.
Ms Then Jiamin, 25, said in court papers that she was assaulted by Madam Tan Siew Hoon, who is married to Venture Corp chairman and chief executive officer Wong Ngit Liong.
The alleged assault was said to have taken place in the business-class cabin of a plane bound for Tokyo.
Venture Corp, Singapore's second largest contract manufacturer, makes computer and printer parts for some of the world's top tech firms, including Hewlett Packard.
Ms Then, who has been with SIA for two years, is seeking unspecified damages for 'emotional and mental distress', according to documents filed by her lawyers from the firm of Drew & Napier.
The case was filed last week in the Subordinate Courts, where the maximum amount that may be awarded is $250,000.
Madam Tan declined comment through her lawyer Ravinderpal Singh yesterday. Mr Singh said it would be inappropriate to discuss the case 'as the matter is already before the courts'.
Madam Tan apparently became upset when the stewardess was serving Mr Wong during the flight on Sept 20.
The stewardess claims Madam Tan slapped her at around 4pm, when the flight was about 80 minutes from Tokyo's Narita Airport.
Immediately after the alleged assault, Ms Then claims Madam Tan asked her in a loud voice: 'Why are you talking to my husband?'
Ms Then says she was defamed by this.
When the flight landed at Narita, Ms Then made a police report and received medical treatment.
She did not continue with the connecting flight, nor did Madam Tan and Mr Wong.
Ms Then lodged a report with Singapore police when she returned home.
By convention, incidents on Singapore Airlines planes lie within the jurisdiction of the Singapore police if a report is made here.
It is understood that Ms Then is awaiting the outcome of the Singapore police probe into the report she lodged.
When contacted yesterday, a spokesman said SIA would not comment as the matter is now before the courts.
It is understood that Ms Then had made moves to seek redress from Madam Tan, but these fell through, leading her to file the suit.
vijayan@sph.com.sg
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