A wealthy Malaysian housewife described by the country's top law officer as "a monster" for horrific abuse of her Indonesian maid faced a long jail term as the prime minister joined a chorus of outrage over the case today.

The 35-year-old wife of a company director could be jailed for up to 80 years if found guilty on multiple counts of causing grievous hurt, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times .

The maid, 19-year-old Nirmala Bonet from West Timor, was allegedly repeatedly beaten, burnt with an iron on her breasts and scalded with boiling water by her employer over the past five months.

Pictures of her battered face and scarred body after she was rescued by police have been splashed across the front pages of all major newspapers, provoking an outpouring of disgust and calls for a harsh sentence for her tormentor.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was "shocked and outraged" that someone could inflict such pain on another human being.

"It is shameful. It is despicable and it is painful for Malaysians to see another human being tortured like this," Abdullah told the New Straits Times , pledging that perpetrators of such crimes would not be allowed to get away with it.

Husband could be charged too

In the past, employers convicted of abusing their maids have generally got off lightly, with most offenders walking away free after paying fines and compensation, local media said.

But attorney-general Abdul Gani, who was quoted by the New Straits Times as calling the abuser "a monster", said that if she was convicted on several counts of causing grievous hurt the maximum sentences of 20 years on each count could run consecutively and effectively amount to life in prison.

Police said the woman's 36-year-old husband, a company managing director, could also be charged if it was found that he knew of the abuse and did nothing to stop it.

The government offered Nirmala an official apology. "We apologise and wish to extend our sympathies to her and family, who had placed high hopes on her earning an income, but she was abused instead," said Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar.

Nirmala's plight was exposed after a guard at the upscale condominum where she worked saw her crying on Monday and noticed that she had ugly bruises all over her swollen face and was bleeding from the head and mouth.

Angry response

Some 100,000 Indonesian maids work in Malaysia. They receive a mere RM380 a month and many are forced to work from sunrise to sunset with little protection from labour laws. Their passports are often held by their employers, and Nirmala said she was afraid to run away and did not know where to turn for help. She is now being cared for by the Indonesian embassy.

The Star daily said it received some 800 emails from all over the world after it published the story in its online edition, many expressing anger and others offering cash to help Nirmala recuperate from her injuries.

A group of three businessmen has already donated RM30,000 to Nirmala, the Star reported.- AFP