Dubai: A woman has been accused of repeatedly punching her maid and whipping her with bamboo sticks and electric wires, causing her severe injuries that led to her death.
The 35-year-old Emirati woman is accused of torturing her maid from Comoros Islands. The maid sustained injuries and burns that developed into blood clots and pulmonary oedema [fluid collection in the lungs], leading to her death in December. The Emirati suspect pleaded not guilty and denied the charges when she appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.
“I did not cause her death. How is that? I beat her a long time ago before the incident … how could that have happened! I am not guilty,” the suspect told the presiding judge in court.
The suspect used bamboo sticks and an electric wire when she beat her maid on different occasions and repeatedly punched her, prosecutors said.
The suspect was held liable for the maid’s death, according to records, because she had failed to provide the victim [after the beating] proper medical care and treatment that could have saved her life.
Dubai Police’s forensic examination report confirmed that the deceased was tortured and beaten for weeks and months preceding her death.
The suspect, who remains in custody, refuted any liability contending that she was not responsible for the maid’s death.
Her lawyer asked the presiding judge to adjourn the case until he completes the procedures to obtain a waiver from the maid’s blood parents.
The victim’s 19-year-old countrywoman [also a maid] claimed to prosecutors that she was sent to work at the suspect’s residence since the victim had been working for her as well.
“The agency for whom I worked sent me to work for the suspect because the victim and I are related. In September, I saw the suspect beating the victim. She constantly beat her," claimed the 19-year-old.
"A few days later, the suspect sent me to work at her sister’s house. I worked at the sister’s place where I was beaten and mistreated. I asked her to send me back to the victim’s house because of her bad treatment. Then I stayed at the suspect’s place for five days, during which she beat the victim using different means. However the suspect sent me back to her sister’s where I stayed for a month and a half. During that period the victim constantly complained to me over the phone about how badly and brutally the suspect had been treating her.
"Then the victim suddenly stopped communicating with me since the suspect discovered that we had been talking over the phone. Some time later I was told that she had died. The victim was forced to tolerate the suspect’s bad treatment and assaults because she needed the money."
An Egyptian neighbour testified to prosecutors that he constantly heard the suspect scolding and shouting at the victim, who constantly cried in pain.
The watchman of the building [where the Emirati woman lived] claimed to prosecutors that the neighbours constantly complained about loud cries for help coming out from the suspect’s residence.
The Emirati suspect was quoted as telling prosecutors that she beat the victim with a stick in December.
The court will hear prosecution witnesses when the court reconvenes on March 23.
