Saudi authorities in custody of suspect in slay of Filipina helper

The Saudi Arabian government has taken into custody a man in connection with the case of a 52-year-old Filipina household service worker who was found dead in a hotel room in Jeddah last week.

The arrested man was the last person seen with the Filipina before she was reported missing and found dead, Philippine Consul General to Jeddah Edgar Badajos said in a statement on Wednesday.

Badajos said they expect the Saudi authorities to provide an update on the probe, including the autopsy results on the remains of the Filipina worker right after the observance of the Eid holidays next week.

The body of the Filipina worker, whose name was still being withheld pending investigation, was found as early as August 15 inside a hotel room in Jeddah, but was only reported three days later.

“Initial information received by the Consulate indicated that the body was found three days ago but the death was reported only today,” Badajos said on Sunday.

Badajos disclosed that the Philippine Consulate only learned about the discovery of the body from a concerned member of the Filipino community in that area.

Based on the Consulate’s initial inquiry, the deceased was single and 52 years old.

According to Badajos, the victim first arrived in Saudi Arabia to work as a household service worker in 2007. (Roy C. Mabasa)