MYT 4:28:02 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: A housewife accused of abusing her former maid told a Sessions Court here that she would not have dared to hurt her as the Indonesian would take revenge on her four children as well as her husband.
Yim Pek Ha, 40, said she would be scared if Indonesian Nirmala Bonat would retaliate by hurting her family members for her actions.
"She could harm them," the former boutique manager said further in a choked voice when questioned by her lead counsel Jagjit Singh on Monday.
Yim is charged with three counts of causing grievous hurt to the maid at the Villa Putra condominium here. She is accused of using a hot electric iron to do so, as well as splashing hot water on Nirmala between January and April 2004.
Yim faces another charge of voluntarily causing hurt to Nirmala, 24, with a steel mug at the same place on May 17, 2004.
Asked if she had suffered post-natal problems, she denied and claimed that she had four normal deliveries.
The former chief stewardess said she had only slapped Nirmala once after the maid lied to her on one occasion.
"Even that, I told my husband about the incident and he asked me not to do it again. I told her I was sorry and she accepted my apology," she testified on the fourth day of her defence.
On a cautioned statement that she had given to a recording officer on May 20, 2004, Yim said the police officer did not give her the opportunity to give more details on her part.
"I told him that I had more incidents to relate to him but he said he did not have the time. To him, you (Yim) are going to hell, God will see you there and (there is) no point writing more," she said.
Yim denied assaulting Nirmala for not wetting her (maid) hair after having showered, not ironing the clothes smoothly, for having smelly and untidy hair and for not cleaning the toilets.
"These reasons did not irritate me or make me angry. For example, if she did not have a shower, she could go and have a bath," she said.
On the injuries shown in the photographs tendered by the prosecution, Yim said Nirmala could have injuries on her body parts which were accessible to her.
"For someone who has mental problems, anything is possible if she really wants to do it," she replied when asked on how Nirmala could have injured herself on parts of her body which are not accessible to her.
Questioned by DPP Raja Rozela Raja Toran, Yim agreed that she was concerned with hiring a maid who is not a threat for the safety and health of her children.
Pressed further by DPP Raja Rozela, Yim said Nirmala was not a good maid and sometimes she was angry with her.
The hearing continues Tuesday.
By M. MAGESWARI
