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18 April 2024

Dubai Police solve Filipina murder in 24hrs

Published
By Mohammad Al Sadafy and Sneha May Francis

Dubai Police have arrested the killer of a Filipina who was found dead in her International City apartment last week.



Maria Lenlie Oliverio from her Facebook page.

Following intense investigation, the building watchman was nabbed and has since confessed to the crime. His fingerprints matched those found on the crime scene, the police said.

Major General Khamis Matar Al-Muzainah, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said the killer was caught 24 hours after they received the news of her death.

Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commanding general for the criminal investigation, said that four teams were involved in cracking the murder mystery.

The first team collected information about the victim, the second connected with her friend and an acquaintance, the third team dealt with building residents, and the fourth with workers in the neighbouring grocery stores.

It was Filipina Maria Lenlie Oliverio’s friend who had informed the police about the death, after he found her body in the apartment.

Al-Muzainah added that multiple stab wounds on her body had established the motive as revenge.

The teams zeroed in on the building guard, who later confessed to the crime.

According to the Dubai Police, the watchman entered the country two months ago after securing a job in a security company, and has been working in the building for 10 days before the crime unfolded.

The defendant said in his statement that he was cleaning the entrance of the building on the morning of February 18, when the victim poured water on him. He was angry, and an altercation followed. It is then that he decided to take revenge.

At night, he went to the apartment of the victim under the pretext of fixing a malfunction in the fire system. Once inside the apartment, the accused gagged the victim, and then stabbed her with a knife. He then cleaned himself, left the apartment, and proceeded to work as usual.

The accused has been transferred to the public prosecution in Dubai, for the completion of the legal proceedings against him.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, an official from Assistance to Nationals (ATN) of the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, said they were awaiting the Dubai Police report, after which the body will be repatriated to Manila.