Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police have detained a man and his sister for allegedly beating their Indonesian maid to death, a news report said Monday.

Hospital authorities were alerted of an accident on Saturday, and upon arriving at the suspects' home, found the maid dead with bruises on her head and body, the Star daily said.

The maid in her 20s had started working at the home of her employer two months ago, the report said.

Police have detained and placed under remand the employer's two children, aged 28 and 30. District police chief said the duo would be investigated for murder.

Malaysia is home to more than 600,000 foreign maids, many of whom come from Indonesia and the Philippines and earn a minimum of 500 ringgit (135 dollars) a month.

Local reports of Malaysian employers abusing or mistreating their maids are relatively common, with the occasional case of maids attacking their bosses also making the news. (dpa)