Maid denies stealing Dh1.4m, watches

Amaid has been accused of stealing Dh1.4 million in cash and three diamond wristwatches worth Dh700,000 from her female sponsor while the latter was away on holiday.

The Emirati woman sponsor was said to have received a message on her WhatsApp from the 26-year-old Ethiopian maid informing her that her safe had disappeared from her residence in Mirdif in October. The sponsor called up her brother and asked him to go and check.

When the brother reached the flat, he discovered that the maid and safe had disappeared and he reported it to the police. Preliminary interrogations revealed that the Ethiopian was involved in the theft.

Prosecutors accused the maid of stealing cash and valuables from her sponsor.

The 26-year-old pleaded not guilty when she appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday.

Prosecutors said the maid and two other suspects, who remain at large, stole the Emirati’s cash and valuable wristwatches.

Asked by presiding judge Urfan Omar about her statement before prosecutors that two others had carried out the heist, the maid contended that she was beaten by law enforcement officers and coerced to say what she had said.

She also alleged that she was threatened that she would be killed if she did not say what she had been quoted as saying.

“I am innocent and I want to be cleared of this charge,” she told the court.