An Indonesian domestic helper working for a Saudi family has threatened to commit suicide after claiming ill-treatment by the family, the local police said Tuesday.

Jedda police spokesman Misfar Al-Juaid said police officers arrived at the scene after receiving a tip from another Indonesian and found the woman was standing on a balcony apparently ready to jump.

"The officers successfully talked her out of it," Al-Juaid said, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com on Wednesday.

"The woman tried to commit suicide because her Arab employer and his children had physically abused her," he said, adding that the woman was brought to hospital with bruises all over the body.

The police are currently investigating the alleged abuse and questioning the employer, 80, and his two children, both age 50 and 35.