ABU DHABI // A woman accused of stealing abayas and headscarves from her sister told a court the allegations did not make sense.
MS, an Egyptian, told the Abu Dhabi Appeals Court today that she had been staying with her Emirati sister in the UAE when the complaint was filed in July 2010. She said the pair had argued and that she decided to return to Egypt.
"She told me that she was a local I was a resident, so I should just go back to Egypt," MS told the court.
MS had been living with her sister since their parents died in 1999 and HS became her guardian and sponsor.
A month after HS filed the complaint, MS attempted to return to the UAE where she was employed.
"I was surprised when the airport officials did not let me in, they said my visa has been cancelled by my sponsor," said MS.
She argued that if she had stolen from her sister then her sister would not have cancelled her visa.
"She would've waited for me to enter the country so they can arrest me," she said.
Last December she managed to enter the country on a visit visa.
"My sister told me my car had been stolen and burnt, so I went to file a police report to find it," she told the judge. She said she was surprised to find out about the lawsuit as she had already been acquitted in the Criminal Court of First Instance.
Th public prosecution is appealing that verdict.
The appeal court's verdict is expected on March 14.
hdajani@thenational.ae
