Maids hide half a million dirhams of UAE sponsor's cash and jewellery in pillows

Two maids confess to stealing cash and valuables worth nearly half a million dirhams from their sponsor.

DUBAI // Two maids confessed today to stealing cash and valuables worth nearly half a million dirhams from their employer.

S?A, 25 and H?F, 26, both from Ethiopia, stole Dh254,000 in cash and 165 pieces of jewellery from their Emirati sponsor M?D, 53.

Prosecutors told the Criminal Court the theft occurred on January 15 this year shortly after the employer, a teacher, had moved to a new house.

She left the money and jewellery in bags 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," said the employer.

Police searched the house but could not find the bags. However, they noticed that the two maids' pillows were suspiciously heavy.

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

Both maids confessed to the robbery. A verdict is expected on March 21.