Maids jailed three months for Dh500,000 theft from Dubai employer

DUBAI // Two maids who stole cash and valuables worth nearly half a million dirhams from their grieving employer and hid them in their pillows have been sentenced to three months in prison.

SA, 25 and HF, 26, both from Ethiopia, stole Dh254,000 in cash and 165 pieces of jewellery from their Emirati sponsor MD on January 15 this year shortly after their employer moved to a new house. During the move the employer - a 53-year-old teacher - left the money and jewellery in a number of bags which were left unguarded while she attended her grandmother's funeral.

"When the funeral finished and I went to check on the bags, I couldn't find them inside the wardrobe where I had hidden them," recalled the employer.

She then called police and officers searched the house, but could not find the bags. However, they noticed that the two maids' pillows were suspiciously heavy.

They tore the pillows open and found the money and jewellery inside.

salamir@thenational.ae