A domestic helper who admitted to slapping her employer’s eight-year-old daughter while serving dinner was given a three-year bind-over order by a Hong Kong court on condition of good behaviour after an assault charge against her was dropped.

Eastern Court on Monday heard that Linne Pramis Pesimo, 48, slapped the girl once as she refused to eat her meal on March 20. The girl’s mother, a single parent, was resting in a bedroom at their Wan Chai home at the time of the assault.

After being hit, the girl rushed to her mother’s room and sought help. The mother reported the case to police the following day.

Hospital doctors found redness on the girl’s right cheek.

Pesimo was later charged with a count of assault by those in charge of a child or young person.

Prosecutors told Principal Magistrate David Cheung Chi-wai that they had confirmed with the victim’s mother that the charge would be withdrawn.

Cheung warned the defendant not to commit any criminal acts of a similar nature during the bind-over period, or she would have to pay HK$2,000 (US$255) and could face a more severe penalty.