The age of an Indonesian maid facing a murder charge here, came into question in court on Thursday, after the lawyer defending Dewi Sukowati said it was "an issue".

Defence counsel Mohamed Muzammil Mohamed asked the court if the prosecution would be amending the charges on account of his client's "change in age". The police prosecutor, however, said she was not aware of any amendments but would check with the investigating officer.

The case against Dewi, who is accused of killing socialite Nancy Gan at a Victoria Park bungalow on March 19 - just over week of her arrival from Indonesia - will be heard again on May 15.

The charge sheet tendered when she first appeared in court on March 20, had indicated that Dewi was 23 years-old. The minimum age for a foreign domestic worker to work in Singapore is 23.

Indonesian Embassy counsellor Sukmo Yuwono had told The Straits Times last month that Dewi, who is from the Pati regency in Central Java, was hired through an agency not accredited by the embassy to recruit maids. She received her work permit on March 12 and worked for Ms Gan for barely a week before her death.