Lawyers for Chee Kit "Max" Chong, 47, made the assertions to a Victorian County Court jury on Wednesday as his slavery trial reached its final stages.
Chong has pleaded not guilty to intentionally possessing a 61-year-old Malaysian woman as a slave at his Melbourne home between January and October 2022.
Prosecutors alleged the woman, who cannot be identified, carried out unpaid labour for Chong including cleaning his house, washing clothes and providing him massages.
Chong is accused of punishing the woman if she failed in her domestic duties, including by assaulting her and depriving her of sleep and food.
He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault.
It's also alleged the woman's freedom of movement was substantially restricted, with Chong only allowing her to leave the house if she was with him.
Prosecutors allege she was dependent on Chong for access to medical care and he failed to ensure she obtained adequate care for her injuries and medical conditions.
Chong's barrister Diana Price on Wednesday told the jury her client had assisted the woman by locating and then driving her to a Cohealth clinic to see a doctor.
But the woman did not have access to Medicare and Chong did not have the means to pay for her medical bills, Ms Price said.
The barrister also denied Chong had restricted the woman's movements, instead pointing to her police statements where she referenced different bus lines and stations.
"There are little crumbs through the evidence that show she knows Melbourne and she knows how to get around," Ms Price said.
"She moved independently and was free to do so."
Chong also rejected claims he restricted the woman's access to food, with Ms Price saying the complainant was free to use the kitchen and they ate all together.
The woman was considered part of Chong's family as she joined different events including meals at restaurants and park dates, Ms Price said.
"Family members don't always treat each other well but nonetheless (the woman) was treated as part of the family," she said.
The barrister urged the jury to find Chong not guilty, saying this was not a case of slavery.
"It's not a case of owning a person, selling a person, treating a person as an object of labour," Ms Price said.
"(The woman) is not in a position of slavery. She has never been possessed by anyone."
Judge Michael Cahill will give his final directions on Thursday before jurors begin their deliberations on a verdict.
Chong's wife Angie Liaw, 32, also faced trial accused of assisting her husband but the judge found her not guilty on May 7, telling the jury she should be acquitted as a matter of law.
16°C