JOHOR BARU - A Singaporean monk who was arrested by Malaysian police for allegedly assaulting an Indonesian maid after she refused to marry him was released on Tuesday (May 10), reports said.

The 63-year-old monk, who is named Liang Yan Jing in Chinese reports, has denied that he wanted the maid to marry him. It was his female companion, Wendy, who was unhappy with the maid, reports said.

Wendy, 46, was charged in court on Wednesday and slapped with a fine of RM5,000 (S$1,700), Shin Min Daily News reported.

The couple were arrested last Friday after the 23-year-old maid complained that they used their hands and a hammer to attack her, causing injuries to her head and parts of the body, Sin Chew Daily reported.

It is understood that after a visit to the magistrate court, the monk was taken back to the police station in Kulai, and released at about 4.30pm on Tuesday.

Police said that there was no evidence against the monk, Shin Min reported.

However, he has overstayed in Malaysia for a few months, police said.

The monk and Wendy stayed at a temple in Kulai and the maid has worked there for close to two years.

He is said to have been there for 20 years, and Wendy moved in with him about 10 years ago.

The Johor branch of the Buddhist Association of Malaysia said that they are not aware of the monk, and he is not registered with them.