Man rapes and kills maid

A man raped a maid then murdered her by suffocating her with her headscarf when she threatened to reveal what had happened, Dubai Criminal Court was told yesterday.

Defendant AS, 25, from India, had the same sponsor as the maid and had been asked to take her for a medical test. He attacked the woman while they were on the way to a clinic, it is alleged. The accused, who attended yesterday's hearing, denies premeditated murder and forcible rape.

Witness Ali Deikel, a driver, narrated how he found the maid's body. He said he woke up one morning and, looking out through the window of his room, saw a woman lying on her back. He thought she was drunk. But after several hours he noticed the woman had still not moved. He told the building's watchman about the matter who went to investigate with a guard from another building. They found that the woman was dead and police were called.

The sponsor, Roads and Transport Authority inspector Ali Fadhil, testified that he had instructed the defendant to take his maid for the test and had provided him with the necessary documents and Dh800. The following day he received a call from the defendant who said the woman had run away during the test procedures. Eight days later he sent the defendant to cancel his sponsorship of the maid. After a further two days police showed him the photo of the maid's body.

The trial was adjourned until February 9, and the court ordered that the defendant should remain in custody until then.

Savings certificates stolen

A bank worker yesterday admitted stealing savings certificates from his employers and selling them to customers for a total of Dh102,500.

FK, 32, from India, took the Millionaire Certificates from Doha Bank, Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The case was adjourned until January 19 when a verdict is due to be given. The defendant will remain in custody until then.

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