Saw To Keh granted bail after alleged choking spouse in front of his child

See the man who was bailed from Yatala prison after he allegedly left the mother of his child crying on the living room floor with red marks around her throat. 

A man who allegedly wrapped his hands around his partner’s throat in an alleged drunken outburst was seen outside of court for the first time, since his release from Yatala prison on bail.

The Mount Gambier Magistrates Court previously heard  Saw To Keh’s alleged violent assault was allegedly witnessed by one of his children who heard the pair arguing.

The child who saw the alleged violent outburst later found her mother crying on the living room floor with “red marks” on her neck, the court heard.

Mr Keh, 36, who was being held in Yatala prison, was granted home detention bail in June, despite objections from police prosecution.

“The (alleged) victim woke up and realised that the defendant hadn’t gone to work, due to being intoxicated,” a police prosecutor previously said.

“During the argument, the defendant’s grabbed the victim around the neck with both hands while yelling at her.

“Fortunately the (alleged) victim was still able to breathe.”

A child allegedly found their mother crying on the living room floor with red marks around her throat after she allegedly confronted Saw To Keh about his drinking. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Though Mr Keh is a prescribed bail applicant, meaning bail is presumed against him, his defence lawyer Jarrad Sim was successful in convincing the court to grant Mr Keh strict home detention bail.

“These are allegations, they are not proven,” Mr Sim previously said.

“The only evidence is that of the (alleged victim).

“In many matters such as this prosecution ultimately do not proceed with the charges — it’s often the case that matters such as these do not proceed.

The court heard that Mr Keh’s limited English speaking ability would pose a greater challenge if he were to remain in custody and that if he was found guilty “there is a high probability that a suspended sentence would be open to the court” as a penalty.

Mr Keh has been charged with one count of aggravated assault against his spouse.

Prosecutors elected not to pursue targeted domestic violence laws against Mr Keh.

In 2019 the state government made the act of strangulation or choking a specific offence, which can attract a maximum seven-year jail term.

Mr Keh was fitted with an electronic monitoring device and has been bailed to a Mount Gambier address.

He will next front court in August.