SINGAPORE - In 2009, she was raped twice, dragged by her hair from room to room, poked and cut with a pair of scissors, strangled with raffia string and finally thrown out the window of a second storey flat.

The 26-year-old Indonesian maid survived the ordeal and will now testify in court against her alleged 42-year-old assailant.

The suspect, who is now 44, will not be named to protect the identity of the victim, who is now 29.

In the first day of the High Court trial yesterday, the prosecution said it would be calling 49 witnesses for the case including police officers, forensic scientists and the victim herself.

The accused faces five charges - two of aggravated rape and one each of attempted murder, causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, and trespassing.

On the morning of Sept 9, 2009 there was a power trip in the maid's employers' home. The suspect, who is also her neighbour, helped fix it.

The maid's employers later left the house at about 1.30pm leaving her alone at home. Her neighbour then rang the doorbell and asked if he could watch her eat lunch. She refused and closed the door.

While she was doing her chores after lunch, the power supply tripped for the second time that day.

She opened the door and gate of the flat to go out and reset the circuit box.

Her neighbour, who is a former security guard, approached her and asked her what had happened.

In the midst of the maid's explanation, he moved in front of her and pushed her into the flat before closing the door.

She tried to escape but was caught by the man.