A maid's hands were burned with an iron by her employer as punishment for scorching a camisole, a court heard yesterday.
Liu Man-kuen, 33, denied a charge of assault inflicting grievous bodily harm in February at her home on Tai Hang Road, Causeway Bay.
Domestic helper Achacoso Warly Cabaneros, 28, told Eastern Court that she had apologised immediately after scorching the grey nylon camisole, but Liu told her she was stupid.
'She asked me to put my hands on the ironing board, and used her right hand to grab my right forearm. Then she used her left hand to iron the back of my hands,' Ms Cabaneros said, recalling the February incident. 'When she ironed me, she said, 'This is the payment for what you have done'.' The frightened maid then called her aunt and sister, with both suggesting she call police, Magistrate Colin Mackintosh was told. The court heard a policewoman took the maid to Tang Shiu Kin Hospital for treatment. Although she received treatment, her hands were left scarred.
Mr Mackintosh asked Ms Cabaneros to approach his desk so he could have a closer look at her hands.
Defence lawyer Fu Chong-sang told the court that Ms Cabaneros had lied about the injury so she could return to her four children in the Philippines, which she denied.