Dubai prosecutors urge public to report abuse as maid is arrested for beating five-year-old boy

Filipino faces court over assault in gated community

A maid has been arrested and accused of physically assaulting a five-year-old boy over a period of time at the gated community where they lived.

The Filipino allegedly slapped and pinched the child and hit him in between his legs with a stick.

One of the assaults took place after the boy dropped her phone, an official said.

Senior public prosecutor Ahmad Al Attar said that the incident came to light in the first week of January when a neighbour spotted an instance of violence.

“The mother works in Abu Dhabi but lives in Dubai. She had tried to call her maid, who didn't answer because at that exact moment she was hitting the child," he said.

"When the neighbour saw the child being assaulted, she took him away and informed the mother of the abuse upon her return."

He added that the maid, who worked for the family for eight months, did not attempt to hide the punishment she gave out.

A medical report confirmed the child suffered bruises on different parts of his body. Mr Al Attar added that when he interviewed the child, he had seen almost green bruises on his body.

The prosecutor said a number of other women from the neighbourhood in Bur Dubai informed the mother that they had also seen as the maid beat the child, but had not reported it.

A social worker’s report stated that the child developed a state of shame from being hit publicly. He also had nightmares about the woman, it was claimed.

“I wonder how people could see a child being beaten and not do something," Mr Al Attar said in reference to the length of time it took to report the hitting.

"As per law, it's mandatory for anyone one who witnesses a child being subjected to any form of abuse to report it to the authorities, including if it was a parent who was abusing the child."

He urged members of the public to speak up if they witness an incident that looks like it may be abuse.