An Indonesian maid told a court yesterday that she was forced to endure degrading, slave-like conditions while working for a couple who constantly beat her for no reason and failed to pay any wages or allow her to have holidays for two years.

Kartika Puspitasari, 30, testified in the District Court yesterday against her former employers, Tai Chi-wai, 42, and Catherine Au Yuk-shan, 41. The pair denied seven counts of assault and one of false imprisonment.

The court heard on Friday that Kartika had been left tied to a chair in a diaper for five days while the family went on holiday.

Kartika said the job was her first as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. She arrived at the couple's home on July 22, 2010. Her nightmare began when she moved with the couple and their three children, aged three to 10, to their new flat in Tai Po in October 2010.

The maid said Au threw away all her clothing, including her underwear, leaving her with nothing to wear. Au then gave her some oversized old clothing, but no underwear or bras. Kartika said Au also cut off all her hair, and wanted to cut it again when it began to grow back. When Kartika refused, she said Au threatened her with a box-cutter and said: "If you do not cut it off, I will kill you." The maid said Au then slashed her forearm and her waist with the blade, showing the scars on her arm to the judge.

In the new flat, Kartika said she was allowed to sleep only in the kitchen. She worked seven days a week, was not allowed any holiday, and never got paid.

She said Au constantly assaulted her, sometimes hitting her in the back of the head with wire hangers, or in the mouth with the heel of her shoe. She also used a hot iron to scald her cheek and forearm. She said on one occasion, Au used plastic cable ties to tie her to a chair and then beat her about the face with a 2-1/2 foot bicycle chain. The maid said the beating was very painful and that she lost a piece of a front tooth.

She said Au then left her tied to the chair and went to work. An hour later, Tai returned, but instead of releasing her, he also beat her with the chain.

Kartika said most of the acts of violence directed at her appeared to be for no reason. She said that while she was working for the couple, she was not allowed to leave the flat alone. She could leave only when Au took her out with the children. She had no key to the flat and Au kept her passport in a secret hiding place.

Between June 27 and July 1 last year, the family went on holiday to Thailand. Kartika said that before leaving, Tai tied her legs to a chair and tied her hands behind her back. He did not leave any food and water for her. Kartika said she tried to free herself but could not. She was left tied up and alone in the kitchen for five days. She said she was starving, dehydrated and had to urinate where she sat until the family returned from their holiday.

She said the situation became even worse when the family moved to another flat in the same district in September last year.

Kartika said the couple tied her hands and legs every night, and pushed her onto the toilet before they went to sleep. She said even in the daytime, she was tied up and untied only when the couple wanted her to work.

Kartika said Tai tied her up particularly tightly on October 8 last year, and that she tried to loosen her restraints by moving her legs. In the morning, Tai found the restraints were loose. Kartika said he hit her in the face and said: "If you run away, I will smash all your teeth out."

One day when the couple had left the flat, Kartika said she managed to hop, legs tied, to the children's room where she found a pair of scissors. She freed herself and escaped from the flat.

The trial continues today before Deputy Judge So Wai-tak.

Seorang pembantu Indonesia mengatakan kepada pengadilan kemarin bahwa dia dipaksa untuk bertahan merendahkan, kondisi seperti budak saat bekerja untuk pasangan yang terus memukulinya tanpa alasan dangagal untuk membayar upah atau mengizinkannya untuk memiliki liburan selama dua tahun.

Kartika Puspitasari, 30, bersaksi di Pengadilan Distrik kemarin terhadap mantan majikannya, Tai Chi-wai, 42, dan Catherine Au Yuk-shan, 41. Pasangan ini membantah tujuh dakwaan penyerangan dan salah satu penjara palsu.

Pengadilan mendengar pada hari Jumat bahwa Kartika telah ditinggalkan diikat ke kursi di popok selama lima hari sementara keluarga pergi berlibur.

Kartika mengatakan pekerjaan dia pertama sebagai pembantu rumah tangga di Hong Kong. Dia tiba di rumah pasangan itu pada tanggal 22 Juli 2010. Mimpi buruknya dimulai ketika ia pindah dengan pasangan dan tiga anak mereka, usia tiga sampai 10, untuk rata baru mereka di Tai Po pada Oktober 2010.

Pelayan mengatakan Au membuang semua pakaiannya, termasuk pakaian dalamnya, meninggalkan dia dengan apa-apa untuk dipakai. Au kemudian memberinya beberapa baju tua kebesaran, tapi tidak ada celana atau bra. Kartika mengatakan Au juga memotong semua rambutnya, dan ingin memotong lagi ketika mulai tumbuh kembali. Ketika Kartika menolak, katanya Au mengancamnya dengan kotak-pemotong dan berkata: ". Jika Anda tidak memotongnya, aku akan membunuhmu" Pelayan mengatakan Au kemudian memangkas lengan dan pinggang dengan pisau, menunjukkan bekas luka di lengannya kepada hakim.

Di flat baru, Kartika mengatakan ia hanya diizinkan untuk tidur di dapur. Dia bekerja tujuh hari seminggu, tidak diperbolehkan libur, dan tidak pernah dibayar.

Dia mengatakan Au terus menyerangnya, kadang-kadang memukul dia di belakang kepala dengan kawat gantungan, atau di mulut dengan tumit sepatunya. Dia juga menggunakan besi panas untuk memanaskan pipinya dan lengan bawah. Dia berkata pada suatu kesempatan, Au menggunakan ikatan kabel plastik untuk mengikat dia ke kursi dan kemudian memukulinya tentang wajah dengan rantai sepeda kaki 2-1/2. Pelayan mengatakan pemukulan itu sangat menyakitkan dan bahwa dia kehilangan sepotong gigi depan.

Dia mengatakan Au kemudian meninggalkan diikat ke kursi dan mulai bekerja. Satu jam kemudian, Tai kembali, tapi bukannya melepaskan dirinya, ia juga memukulinya dengan rantai.

Kartika mengatakan sebagian besar tindakan kekerasan yang ditujukan padanya tampaknya tanpa alasan. Dia mengatakan bahwa sementara ia bekerja untuk pasangan, dia tidak diizinkan untuk meninggalkan datar saja. Dia bisa pergi hanya ketika Au membawanya keluar dengan anak-anak. Dia tidak punya kunci datar dan Au menyimpan paspor di sebuah tempat persembunyian rahasia.

Antara 27 Juni dan 1 Juli tahun lalu, keluarga pergi berlibur ke Thailand. Kartika mengatakan bahwa sebelum berangkat, Tai diikat kakinya ke kursi dan diikat tangannya di belakang punggungnya. Dia tidak meninggalkan makanan dan air untuknya. Kartika mengatakan ia mencoba untuk membebaskan diri tapi tidak bisa. Dia meninggalkan diikat dan sendirian di dapur selama lima hari. Dia bilang dia kelaparan, dehidrasi dan harus buang air kecil di mana dia duduk sampai keluarga kembali dari liburan mereka.

Dia mengatakan situasi makin memburuk ketika keluarganya pindah ke apartemen lain di distrik yang sama pada bulan September tahun lalu.

Kartika mengatakan pasangan itu mengikat tangan dan kakinya setiap malam, dan mendorongnya ke toilet sebelum mereka pergi tidur. Dia mengatakan bahkan di siang hari, dia diikat dan membuka ikatan hanya ketika pasangan ingin dia bekerja.

Kartika mengatakan Tai mengikatnya erat terutama pada 8 Oktober tahun lalu, dan bahwa dia mencoba untuk melonggarkan pembatasan nya dengan menggerakkan kakinya. Di pagi hari, Tai menemukan hambatan yang longgar. Kartika mengatakan ia memukul wajahnya dan berkata: ". Jika Anda lari, aku akan menghancurkan semua gigi Anda keluar"

Suatu hari ketika pasangan telah meninggalkan flat, Kartika mengatakan ia berhasil hop, kaki diikat, untuk kamar anak-anak di mana dia menemukan sepasang gunting. Dia melepaskan diri dan melarikan diri dari flat.

Sidang berlanjut hari sebelum Wakil Hakim Jadi Wai-tak.