Maid ‘caught stealing after photo of her wearing Dh110,000 ring surfaces’

The Filipina, 28, allegedly took items belonging to the Dutch family earlier this year.

DUBAI // A maid stole jewellery and was caught when her employer saw a picture of her wearing her Dh110,000 Bulgari ring, a court heard.

The Filipina, 28, took items belonging to the Dutch family earlier this year, it is claimed.

In a trial at Dubai Criminal Court, she is accused of theft and trespassing, the latter charge arose because she allowed her boyfriend to swim in the family’s pool while they were away.

Her employer, a 47-year-old Dutch national, said he returned to his Bur Dubai villa on January 3 to find her boyfriend in their pool.

After confronting him they became suspicious and checked their valuables.

“My wife went through her things and found a Dh110,000 Bulgari designer ring missing from our bathroom,” he said.

His wife questioned the maid and a driver they also employed about the missing items, but he said they denied having taken anything.

Yet when they picked up her phone they found pictures showing her wearing the jewellery.

The couple went on to find several items in the maid’s room that they claim she stole.

“We found two other rings, earrings, a handbag, our engagement ring and sunglasses,” the Dutchman said.

Pictures of her wearing some of the stolen items were submitted to the court.

Prosecutors said the maid admitted stealing the items and had sent other stolen goods to her family in the Philippines. All of the items were recovered.

They also said she admitted letting her boyfriend into her sponsor’s house.

But when she appeared in court, the maid denied both charges. The judge will give his verdict today.