Runaway maid jailed for locking newborn and babysitter in bedroom in Dubai

Dubai: A maid who locked a babysitter and her sponsor’s newborn baby inside a bedroom and then absconded from her sponsor’s residence after stealing Dh3,200 from the babysitter’s purse has been jailed for three months.

The Dubai Court of First Instance on Thursday convicted the 25-year-old Bangladeshi maid of locking up the Filipina babysitter inside the bedroom and stealing.

Although the defendant, R.A., admitted to locking her coworker inside the room as she claimed that the babysitter had assaulted her, she denied stealing money from her. Presiding Judge Wajdi Al Menyawi also ordered the deportation of the maid after the completion of her prison term.

The defendant alleged in court that the Filipina beat her on that day.“So I locked her inside the bedroom along with the baby. I did not steal anything. I am not a thief,” she claimed.

Prosecutors accused R.A. with illegally confining the Filipina and the Emirati newborn baby inside the bedroom. She was accused of stealing money from the babysitter’s purse.

The defendant asked to be deported when she entered her plea in court.

The Filipina testified that she was cleaning the bedroom when R.A. locked her up and absconded on September 18, 2012. “I called her from the window but she looked at me and waved and said goodbye. She walked out of the villa and ran away. I called the neighbours for help… they contacted my sponsor. My boss came and freed us from the room… the defendant locked the door from outside. She stole my money,” the babysitter told prosecutors.

Records said the Emirati sponsor reported the matter to the police.

During prosecution questioning R.A. admitted to locking the babysitter so that she could to abscond.

Thursday’s judgement remains subject to appeal within 15 days.