A woman employer was charged on Tuesday with eight counts of maid abuse.

Ngoa Choi Yin, 47, a Singapore permanent resident, is said to have caused hurt to Ms Siti Nurbayah, an Indonesian domestic worker, at her flat in Upper Bukit Timah Road between May and October last year.

Most of the charges accuse her of slapping the maid. Ngoa also allegedly pounded and bit the maid.

The alleged abuse began sometime after May 12 last year when she allegedly used her elbow to knock the maid's upper arm.

During one of several attacks in October, she allegedly slapped the maid twice on her cheek, kicked and punched her in the abdominal area.

Ngoa, who is represented by Ms Alina Sim, will be back in court on Sept 17.

If convicted, she faces a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to $7,500 on each charge.