However, after she had been savagely beaten up, the maid confessed that she had stolen the money and had already spent US$169 and was left with US$31.

It is alleged that a neighbour, Simangaliso Moyo, arrived at the scene with a sjambok and whipped the chained teen.

Mpofu then allegedly boiled water which she poured onto the half-dead maid’s private parts, saying that was to stop her from having sex with any man.

After assaulting the maid, the couple reported her to the police for theft leading to her arrest.

The maid pleaded guilty to theft when she appeared before Filabusi magistrate Abednico Ndebele but also exposed the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her employers.

Moyo admitted that they had chained her to stop her from running away.

The magistrate ordered that the teenager must be examined by a State doctor and remanded her out of custody.

While she was out of custody, the maid reported the couple and Simangaliso to the police, for assaulting her and scalding her on her private parts with hot water.

A medical report detailing the extent of the injuries on the maid’s privates was availed in her second court appearance.

The maid was sentenced to six months in prison by magistrate Ndebele.

However, four months of the sentence were suspended for three years on condition that she does not commit an offence involving dishonesty.

The remaining two months were also suspended on condition that she restitutes the US$169.

The couple and their neighbour were arrested for assault and appeared before Filabusi magistrate Sukoluhle Belinda Nunu last Wednesday.

Magistrate Nunu remanded them out of custody on $40 000 bail each, to 3 February for trial. | B-Metro