SINGAPORE - A maid is on trial after she allegedly committed obscene and indecent acts on her employer's young son on multiple occasions in 2016, from the time when he was just 11 years old.

The 33-year-old Indian national, who cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the boy's identity, is said to have committed the offences between January and May 2016.

The maid is accused of three counts of committing an obscene act on the boy. She is also accused of one count each of committing an indecent act on the child and using threatening words on him.

On the first day of her trial on Monday (June 18), Deputy Public Prosecutor Chee Ee Ling asked District Judge Ng Peng Hong for the trial to be heard in-camera so that it is not open to the public.

She stressed that the alleged victim is young and vulnerable and that the offences were of a "sensitive nature".

According to court documents, the maid allegedly kissed the boy's lips between January and February 2016.

She is said to have placed his hands on her chest on March 27 that year. She allegedly got him to touch her again the following month.

She is also accused of stroking the boy's private parts over his underwear in May 2016.

That same month, the maid allegedly used threatening words on the boy, making him believe that she would release a video clip of them engaging in sexual activities.

The maid, who is unrepresented, was expressionless as she stood in the dock before the judge.

Witnesses who will be testifying include the boy's parents, older sister and maternal aunt.

If convicted of committing an obscene act on the boy, the maid can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $10,000 on each count.

And if convicted of using threatening words on him, she can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $5,000.