House raiders threatened to chop off maid’s head, Dubai court told

DUBAI // A man and a woman broke into a villa, tied up the maid and threatened to chop her head off with a sword before stealing a smartphone, jewellery and expensive watches.

On the morning of March 1 this year the Emirati and his Filipina friend rang the doorbell at the house in Al Barsha. When the maid answered the door, they attacked her and tied her up before the man threatened her with a sword.

He took the phone, jewellery and watches, and a safe from one of the bedrooms. But he threw the safe away after being seen by a neighbour as he drove away from the villa.

“As I opened up I was taken by surprise and tied up with a plastic rope then locked up inside one of the rooms,” said the Filipina maid who was able to free herself after the defendants left the villa.

The pair were arrested the following day in Al Satwa after being identified by the maid.

The Emirati, 39, admitted to a charge of burglary but denied tying up the maid and issuing death threats charges. The Filipina, also 32, denied theft but admitted to tying up the maid and issuing death threats.

The court was told that she had been a maid at the house and suggested to the Emirati they rob the villa in revenge for what she said was ill treatment from her employers.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 14.