Adelina, who goes by one name like many Indonesians, died at 4.45pm. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

The 21-year-old woman from Medan had been working at the semi-detached house in Taman Kota Permai here.

She was spotted by a concerned neighbour with wounds on her hands and legs.

According to a neighbour, Adelina had been spotted sleeping next to a Rottweiler every day for almost two months. She refused to speak to those who greeted her.

Neighbours also claimed loud screaming was common every other day.

Suspecting something was amiss, the neighbour contacted a journalist, who in turn alerted Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim’s office.

Municipal councillor Joshua Woo and his colleagues then visited her yesterday at 4pm to find Adelina seated in the car porch.

A 60-year-old woman, who was Adelina’s employer, told them to “stay out of her business” and asked them to wait for her daughter to return home.

The daughter later denied abusing or mistreating the maid, but admitted to Woo and his colleagues that she had slapped Adelina “once or twice”.

The woman then explained the injuries sustained by Adelina was a result of “strong chemicals”.

She said this was because Adelina had defecated in the kitchen’s drainage outlet, causing it to clog. She was then told to pour chemicals into the outlet.

She claimed Adelina had spilled the chemical on her own legs and arms, hence causing burns.

The woman then bought iodine for Adelina. The maid had apparently agitated her wound, worsening the healing process.

It was learnt that Adelina had pus oozing out from her arms and legs.

Woo then alerted migrant support group Tenaganita and lodged a police report over the matter.

Central Seberang Perai district police chief ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the case will be investigated for murder.

He said, initially, the case was classified under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means.

Nik Ros said the maid had been working with the employers for about two years.

He said Adelina was brought to the police station by her employers.

“When we tried talking to her, she was still afraid and refused to give any statements,” he told reporters here today.

Nik Ros said Adelina was taken to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital for treatment.

He said two siblings, aged 36 and 39, had been arrested for investigations.