KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia » A lawyer says a Malaysian couple have been sentenced to death by hanging for murdering their 26-year-old Indonesian maid three years ago.

Defense lawyer Thong Seng Kong said Friday that the High Court had ruled a day earlier that Fong Kong Meng, 58, and his wife Teoh Ching Yen, 56, were guilty of killing Isti Komariyah by failing to provide food and medical treatment.

Isti, who worked for the couple for nearly two years, was declared dead after being taken to a hospital in June 2011. Prosecutors said she weighed only 57 pounds and had bruises and scratch marks on her body.

Thong says the couple are expected to appeal the sentence.