Sunday, Jan 26, 2014
Dubai: A housemaid and two men have been accused of stealing Dh1,800, jewellery and thousands of dirhams worth of electronics after sedating a family of three.
The 37-year-old Sri Lankan housemaid and her two countrymen were said to have spiked the Indian family’s tea with a drug that put them to sleep before stealing their cash and belongings and absconding in August 2013.
Records said the housemaid, J.F., worked for the family.
Prosecutors accused J.F. and her countrymen, M.R., a visitor, and N.S., a cleaner, of stealing cash and valuables after sedating the Indian family comprising a girl and her parents.
The housemaid entered a not guilty plea when she defended herself before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.
Jail wardens brought J.F. to court in a wheelchair because she had injured her leg.
“I did not put the family to sleep and I did not steal anything. I am innocent, Sir Judge,” said the woman.
“Didn’t you put your sponsor to sleep before committing the crime?” presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi asked the housemaid.
“I had nothing to do with this. It was N.S. who committed the whole crime. He robbed the place and kept the stolen items with his sister-in-law… I did not steal,” replied J.F.
Her purported accomplice, M.R., denied the accusations.
Meanwhile N.S. pleaded guilty and told the court that M.R. participated in the theft.
The 45-year-old Indian housewife told prosecutors: “J.F. worked as our housemaid. She spiked our tea with some sort of sedative and served it to us. My husband, daughter and I fell asleep… when we woke up the next morning we discovered that the housemaid had absconded.”
Prosecutors said the trio stole cash, jewellery, mobile phones, cameras and laptops. A policeman testified that the defendants were arrested shortly after the family reported what had happened to the police.
“During questioning, J.F. admitted that she mixed the tea with a drug that made the family go to sleep. M.R. came to the house and stole the belongings… meanwhile N.S. kept watch at the villa’s entrance from outside,” said the policeman.
Prosecution records said the Indian family appeared light-headed when they reported the matter to the police.
By Bassam Zaza Legal and Court Correspondent
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
