Maid in UAE gets 7 years in jail for setting fire inside sponsor's house

Fujairah - She poured lighter fluid on the clothes inside a cupboard and set it on fire.

A domestic helper has been ordered by the Fujairah Criminal Court to serve seven years in jail over charges of premeditatedly setting fire in her sponsor's house.

Court records show that the suspect intentionally poured an inflammable liquid in a cupboard full of clothes and set it on fire with the intention to damage the entire house.

Alerted about the blaze, the Fujairah Police rushed to the scene, arrested the domestic helper, and referred her to the public prosecution.

The suspect denied the charges, but investigations indicated that an inflammable liquid had been used that triggered the fire.

The lighter the defendant used in setting the fire was found in the cupboard.

While no one was hurt in the fire, it resulted in huge financial loss for the sponsor, the plaintiff.

The housemaid was referred to the Fujairah Criminal Court where the public prosecution requested the jury to order the toughest penalty possible for the accused.

"This fire could have killed the family members," the prosecution said.

The court found the maid guilty and sentenced her to seven years in prison.

• Fujairah