An Indonesian maid in Singapore has been charged and fined $7000 Singapore dollars (around £3500) for pouring bleach into her employer's fish tank, killing 29 fish.
According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), its inspectors had found all the fish in the aquarium – which included arowanas valued at almost $20,000 Singapore dollars (just over £10,000) – floating at the top when they attended the scene.
The maid, who cannot pay the fine, will spend time in jail for the offence.
The maid's employer said he had reprimanded her just before the incident and that he was "completely shocked and speechless." He said he had smelled chlorine and then realised all his fish were floating at the water surface.
According to the SPCA, many such cases reported to the society do not make it to the prosecution stage, largely due to the lack of witnesses or lack of evidence. Its executive director, Deirdre Moss, said: "We want to let people know that such acts are not acceptable in our society and are punishable by law."
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