Woman Arraigned For Torturing Maid To Death In Dubai

A woman has been accused of torturing her two maids and causingone of
them to die of pneumonia, while she kept them unfed and locked in her
Al Rashidiya home for more than a month.
The surviving maid, a Filipina, allegedthat the 45-year-old Emirati
woman, Roha M.(real name withheld), beat them with sticks while
unclad, banged their heads against the wall until they bled, and also
forced them to drink cleaning products. She told the court her
Ethiopian colleague was so hungry she searched for food in the
garbage.
Prosecution records said the severityof the torture and conditions of
theirconfinement led to the Ethiopian's death and caused the
29-year-old Filipina, Emma(name withheld) to suffer severe injuries.
Dubai Police's forensic expert, who examined the injuries of the
Ethiopian confirmed that she had been tortured consistently for more
than a month.
The examiner said keeping her without medication worsened her health
and caused her to develop pneumonia.
"The fact that she was made to drinka pesticide quickened her death,"
said the examiner.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said Roha M. also failed to
provide the maids with medical care that led to the Ethiopian's death
while the Filipina suffered serious injuries.
Roha's husband was also charged with aiding and abetting his wife by
preparing a room at the top of his villa and sealing its windows from
outside to confine the maids.
The Emirati husband and his wife entered a not guilty plea when they
defended themselves before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
Roha said with a jittery voice: "No… that did not happen. I swear to
God. I did not touch the maids. I knew nothing about their injuries."
Presiding judge Ali Atiyyah Sa'ad rejected Roha's bail request and
adjourned the trial to hear witnesseson July 1. The husband remains
out on bail.