SHARJAH — A woman who was employed as a housemaid, and was absconding since stealing money and jewellery from an Arab family residing in Sharjah which had employed her, has been arrested by Sharjah Police.

The woman, F Wardoofa from Ethiopia, had made away with cash and jewellery belonging to a Syrian family, worth Dh390,000.

Colonel Yousef Moussa Al Naqbi, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed that the woman had been recruited illegally and she was not under the sponsorship of the house owner. The police found that an absconding report had been filed against her after she ran away from the home of her sponsor.

After the theft, the maid’s employer had filed a robbery case against her stating that she had stolen Dh390,000 in cash, jewellery and a Nokia cellphone. Apart from these, she had also stolen ladies bags, shoes and clothes.

Colonel Al Naqbi noted that on asking the employer for full details of the maid, he noted that she was not under his sponsorship and that she had used a fake name.

“Intensive investigations conducted by the CID officials led to the arrest of the maid, who was hiding in one of the traditional Arabian houses in Dubai. Legal procedures were completed to arrest the maid in cooperation with Dubai Police. The house was raided and upon searching, cash worth Dh292,000 was found in addition to gold jewellery worth Dh125,000. During interrogation, she confessed to having committed the theft and based on her statements, she was referred to Public Prosecution.”

Colonel Al Naqbi said that Sharjah Police regularly warn people against hiring maids illegally, as they run away from their sponsors to work part-time, illegally, in other households.

“We have repeatedly warned people of the negative consequences of employing maids who are not under their sponsorship. In theft cases related to illegal maids we find it very difficult to investigative the case as these maids usually give fake names and information to their illegal recruiters. This victim of theft was unable to give us accurate information as he did not know her actual name, details about her passport of the place where she resides.”

Colonel Al Naqbi wondered how people employ could maids in their homes without having any information about them. “How can maids hired illegally be trusted with our children and home?,” he asked. — afkarali@khaleejtimes.com