BUKIT MERTAJAM: She was forced to sleep in the porch with the family’s pet dog, constantly scolded and repeatedly beaten and only given occassional meals.
This was the daily abuse which a 21-year-old Indonesian maid from Medan had to endure before she was rescued by police.
Police were alerted to the woman’s ordeal following a report lodged by an aide of Bukit Mertajam member of parliament yesterday.
Her employers, a 36-year-old woman and her 39-year-old brother, have been arrested on suspicion of abusing her.
Both siblings have been remanded for four days beginning today.
It is learnt that the maid was employed to take care of the siblings' elderly mother, in her 60s.
When police got to her, there were bruises on her head and face while there were also numerous open wounds on her hands and legs.
Neighbours, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the maid had been sleeping in the porch of her employers' house in Medan Kota Permai 2, Taman Kota Permai here, for more than a month now.
One of them said the maid was forced to sleep in the porch since the neighbourhood was affected by the worst flooding last November.
"We thought that it was only a temporary arrangement but we have seen her sleeping there for more than a month now," the neighbour said.
Another neighbour, who also declined to be named, claimed that the maid was also often scolded and beaten, sometimes past midnight.
"There were also a few occasions where we saw her clad only in her bra and pants at the porch.
"She had also been fed poorly and she has since lost so much weight,” the neighbour recalled.
The neighbour also claimed that several maids, who worked at the house in the past, could not last for more than three months.
"This maid lasted the longest, maybe because she is scared of her employers," the neighbout added.
Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the maid was still scared and refused to open up to anyone.
"We have sent her to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital for treatment," he said, adding that police had recorded statement from the man who lodged the report to assist in investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt with dangerous weapons or means.