Man arrested for harbouring 42 absconding housemaids

Dubai: A man working at a local newspaper has been arrested for aiding and sheltering 42 absconding maids and for arranging for them to work on an hourly basis with different employees.

S.K., an Asian, was arrested by a team from the Criminal Investigation Department's vice section following information they received on his activity of aiding and sheltering absconding maids and arranging work for them.

The 42 maids from Indonesia, who had absconded from their sponsors and were working for S.K., were all arrested in a sting operation the CID conducted in a villa in the Bur Dubai area. They were provided accommodation by S.K.

Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of CID, said: "We have received directives from the Dubai Police Chief to crack down on absconding maids and their illegal recruitment as this phenomenon has a dangerous impact on society as many of these maids are involved in theft cases."

S.K. has been referred to the public prosecution. However, the 42 maids are still detained but they are to be referred to the Naturalisation and Residency department to complete investigations, according to Al Mansouri.