Malacca police chief Abdul Jalil Hassan said two suspects, a woman in her 50s and her son, in his 20s, had been arrested and were in remand for seven days since yesterday to facilitate the investigation under Section 324 of the Penal Code.

He said police had obtained an order to place the three maids under temporary custody under Section 44 of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

Local newspapers reported that the three Indonesian maids, who could no longer stand the abuse, had managed to escape from their employer’s house in Bukit Katil here and asked for help from the public.

The maids claimed they were frequently beaten and their salaries allegedly kept by their employer.

In another development, Abdul Jalil said the Malacca police would launch a cycling patrol squad in a bid to curb crime and unhealthy activities in the state.

He said the squad would be launched this Thursday.