Court clears maid of theft

GulfNews.com,  January 29, 2009
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By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter

Dubai: A housemaid has been cleared of robbing her female sponsor and colleague before she ran away from the house for lack of evidence, ruled a court.

The 28-year-old Indonesian housemaid pleaded not guilty when she appeared before Presiding Judge Abdul Majid Al Nezamy of the Dubai Court of First Instance which acquitted her on Thursday over insufficient evidence.

The suspect, S.M., denied stealing Dh6,500 in cash and a golden necklace when she defended. The Public Prosecution charged her with robbing Dh3,500 and a necklace from her Emirati sponsor and Dh3,000 from her compatriot workmate, W.B.

Records showed that the suspect left her sponsor's house immediately after the alleged theft.

"When I woke up on the day of the incident, I realised that S.M. was not in the house and I entrusted her with everything in my house. But after her absence, I checked my belongings and valuables and discovered that my money and a necklace were missing," testified the Emirati woman, who then reported the matter to the police.

Law enforcement officers arrested the defendant in Al Ghusais area. The initial verdict is subject to appeal.