KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27: A Malaysian court sentenced a woman on Thursday to 18 years in jail for scalding her Indonesian maid with a hot iron in a case that sparked outrage over the treatment of Indonesian workers.

Malaysia is home to up to two million foreign workers, mostly from Indonesia, taking up jobs from maids to construction workers and plantation labourers.

A sessions’ court in Kuala Lumpur found Yim Pek Ha, a 40-year-old housewife and mother of four, guilty of three counts of causing hurt to Nirmala Bonat about four years ago, the Bernama news agency said.

Yim will appeal against the verdict which her lawyer called “excessive”.

“Nirmala Bonat has been consistent in her statements that her lady boss injured her, from the time she was found by a security guard,” judge Akhtar Tahir said.

He said Yim had committed “sadistic behaviour” which cannot be tolerated in civil society.

Indonesia said it was pleased with the ruling.

“This will serve as a deterrent to future cases,” said Eka Suripto, a Indonesian diplomat in Kuala Lumpur.Bonat’s plight even drew the attention of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and led to street protests outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta.—Reuters