FIRST it was her husband and mother who were charged with maid abuse.

Now the wife has been slapped with 32 charges of causing hurt to the 23-year-old Indonesian maid.

Malaysian housewife Loke Phooi Ling, 37, is alleged to have done worse things to the domestic help between May and early July last year at their Pasir Ris flat - almost on a daily basis.

Her husband, bank executive Stanley Kuah Kian Chong, 37, was charged on Tuesday with three counts of abusing the maid, while her mother, Teng Chen Lian, 66, faces six charges. They are both out on bail.

In Loke's case, the alleged abuses occurred up to four times a day on some days.

Loke is accused of hitting the maid with her hands and legs, and also using kitchen, household and other items to hurt her.

Among the charges, she is alleged to have hit the maid's head against the wall, kick her in the private parts and pinch her.

One charge states that on June 23 last year at about 12.30am, she sprayed detergent onto the maid's peeling palms.

The next morning, she allegedly used a sponge to rub her face and a steel wool and toilet brush to scrub her mouth.

On another occasion on July 1, she allegedly used a water strainer to hit the maid's palms several times.

On July 7, Loke is said to have poured a "super strong stain remover'" liquid on the maid's leg.

She is represented by Mr S. Radakrishnan, who said he has just been briefed.

She is out on $10,000 bail. Her passport was impounded.

Her case will be mentioned on March 25.

If convicted, she can be jailed up to 18 months or fined $1,500, or both, on each charge of voluntarily causing hurt.