KUALA LUMPUR: Housewife Yim Pek Ha denied in a High Court that she had continued bullying her former Indonesian maid Nirmala Bonat.
"I may have been a strict employer but I certainly would not have tortured her.
"I have nothing to gain but everything to loose," said Yim, who is currently serving a 12-year jail term at Kajang prison for hurting Nirmala in 2004.
She said she was very particular about her appearance and would certainly not risk any injury to herself by attacking Nirmala.
"I would certainly not torture the maid and let her continue working for so many months and run the risk of any revenge or retribution by Nirmala towards my children," she said.
Yim, 46, was testifying in the civil suit filed by Nirmala against her and her husband Hii Ik Tiing for damages.
The mother of four maintained that she is innocent and all allegations that she had tortured Nirmala was untrue.
Yim said Nirmala often lied about her work.
"She will openly challenge me by saying that she would drink dirty water if she was lying," she said.
"She is a little lazy, forgetful and untidy. She had burned some clothes when ironing," she said.
Yim said she kept a diary with details of things Nirmala had broken or stolen.
"Certain things got sentimental value and money cannot buy back. We did not mean to deduct from her salary but to remind her as she is a young girl," she said.
She denied that her intention of keeping the diary was to threaten Nirmala.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Siti Khadijah S.Hassan Badjenid continues.
