Kartika Puspitasari told how she was fed once every three days, forced to eat salt when she was hungry, and had her head dunked in a toilet bowl when she was thirsty.

Testifying for a second day, Puspitasari said she hated salesman Tai Chi-wai, 42, and his wife, health- care assistant Catherine Au Yuk-shan, 41.

Under questioning from the defense lawyer, Puspitasari, 30, said yesterday she was forced to wear the clothes of the couple's three-year-old daughter, which easily ripped as they were too small.

On occasions, not allowed to wear a bra and panties, she was forced to cover herself with plastic bags.

When questioned as to how she coped with periods, she said her menstruation had stopped due to her working environment, and that she suffered constant stomachaches.

She was also not allowed to have regular showers and was taken to a park every three days or so to clean herself.

During her two-year ordeal, Puspitasari said she did not have the chance to go out alone. She once considered escaping when the couple were moving homes, but decided not to because their young daughter would be left unattended.

Asked why she did not call the police, she said there was no landline at home, and she had no money to buy a mobile.

Puspitasari was barred from contact with the outside world, and unable to talk to other helpers. She would be beaten if she disobeyed.

The defense lawyer asked how she was able to tolerate the situation.

She replied it was hard to accept, but she dared not resist. She was also very thin and weak and feared being beaten.

It was useless to complain and she had hoped to escape while praying for the strength to do so.

Last October 8, after being starved for two days, she was severely beaten when searching for food in a rubbish bin. She was beaten again the following day, and finally managed to escape the same day.

Puspitasari said her husband is dead and she has a three-year-old girl who is being looked after by her mother.

She had worked in Singapore for seven years, and her relationship with her former employers was harmonious.

The defense lawyer suggested Puspitasari was paid, and taken to a convenience store to transfer the money to her family. She denied such claims.

Her employment agency visited her once - a month after she began working - and when she had not been beaten.

Pictures shown to Deputy Judge So Wai-tak showed injuries to her wrist and knee, allegedly caused by Tai, who bound her hands and feet every night before she slept.

She also had injuries caused by a hot iron, a metal clothes rack and a cutter.

Tai and Au each deny one count of false imprisonment, one of assault, and six of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The trial continues today. (sumber)