Shoulders hunched, heads bowed and faces hidden by their hair, a mother and daughter accused of killing their Myanmar maid avoided eye contact as they were taken to a Bishan Housing Board flat for investigations yesterday afternoon.

Housewife Prema Naraynasamy, 58, and Gaiyathiri Murugayan, 36, are accused of killing Ms Piang Ngaih Don, a 24-year-old mother of a young child, in a ninth-floor flat at Block 145, Bishan Street 11 some time between July 25 and 26.

It is not yet known how she died.

The pair, both dressed in a red polo shirt and navy shorts, arrived in a white van at about 2.30pm.

Police officers led Gaiyathiri to the flat, while her mother remained in the vehicle. Gaiyathiri appeared shaken as she stepped out of the van. She hung her head low and shuffled along before entering the flat minutes later.

She had restraints on her arms and feet and she was supported by a female police officer.

Investigators escorted her out the flat about 1-1/2 hours later, taking with them a blue pail and broom wrapped in brown paper as evidence.

Mother and daughter briefly crossed paths in the carpark when Prema, held by another female officer, was being taken to the flat.

Prema kept her face shrouded by her hair. Unlike her daughter, she left her slippers at the doorstep.

About half an hour later, police investigators were seen leaving with several bags of evidence. The two women left the scene in the van shortly after that.

The pair were arrested last Wednesday, a day after police were alerted to the case.

Ms Piang was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both women are due to appear in court today. If convicted of murder, they face the death penalty.