SINGAPORE - A couple were brought to court on Thursday to face multiple maid abuse charges against their two domestic helpers.

IT manager Tay Wee Kiat, 37, and his wife, Chia Yun Ling, 39, a sales manager, face 21 and 11 charges respectively. They will also be facing Ministry of Manpower charges of breaching work pass conditions.

Tay is said to have caused hurt to Myanmar national Moe Moe Than, 25, six times by using a cane and metal stick to hit her in 2012. Once, he allegedly carried her and threw her out of the bedroom at their home in Yishun Avenue 6.

He is also accused of causing hurt to the other maid, Fitriyah, 32, an Indonesian, on nine occasions.

On Feb 3, 2011, he allegedly forced a bottle of incense into her mouth while she was standing on a stool.

Tay is also alleged to have abetted Fitriyah to hit the other maid on three occasions, and to give false information to the police. He is accused of once abetting Moe Moe Than to slap Fitriyah.

He is said to have offered Fitriyah full salary and passage home after she came to know of his maid abuse offences on Dec 12, 2012.

Chia's charges are mainly for slapping her maids - seven times in the case of Moe Moe Than and twice on Fitriyah.

She also allegedly insulted the modesty of the Myanmar maid by telling her to strip and take photos of her.

The most serious charge is that of using a funnel to force sugar into the Myanmar maid's mouth and forcing her to swallow her vomit.

Their lawyer Wee Pan Lee requested a four-week adjournment.

The couple will be back in court on July 3. Their passports have been impounded.