Singapore - A Malaysian mother and daughter pleaded guilty Friday to maid abuse in Singapore as their trial was under way, a newspaper reported.

Housewife Loke Phooi Ling, 38, was charged with 32 counts and Teng Chen Lian, 67, with six counts of abusing their 23-year-old Indonesian maid from March to July 2007. They pleaded guilty after nine days of testimony in their trial in Singapore District Court, the Straits Times said.

Loke confessed to grabbing the maid's hair and banging her head against the wall, hitting her in the eye, stamping on her feet and using household implements to hit her.

Teng pleaded guilty to stamping the maid on her thighs, slapping her in the face, hitting her on the head and pushing the maid, causing her to fall.

The family also did not allow the maid enough rest or food, and she lost nearly 13 kilograms over the four months she was with the family, the court heard.

The maid escaped by climbing out a kitchen window. She then went to a mosque from which people took her to the Indonesian embassy, where she made a complaint.

Also charged with three counts in the case was Loke's husband, banking executive Stanley Kuah Kian Chong, 38.

Singapore's government has been getting tough on people abusing foreign workers and maids after an increasing number of complaints about mistreatment by their employers. (dpa)