Manama: A Saudi businesswoman will face charges of causing her domestic helper’s death when she goes on trial within weeks.
The helper was reportedly beaten up and deprived of food for a long time and eventually needed medical treatment at a hospital where she was admitted for one week. However, her condition deteriorated and she died, Saudi daily Al Madina reported on Monday.
The businesswoman, who is held in Jeddah’s Briman prison, denied any wrongdoing during questioning and insisted that the wounds found on the helper’s body were caused by her fall from the second floor when she attempted to escape from the house.
The suspect attributed the helper’s massive loss of weight – around 30 kilos – to her new lifestyle. She claimed that the helper, whose nationality was not mentioned, confessed to her that she used to take drugs in her home country before moving to Saudi Arabia.
People commenting on social media expressed astonishment that a businesswoman would be involved in torturing a domestic helper, saying that wealthy people should be more prone to giving and assisting others rather than depriving them of food or abusing them.
“Being unkind is not allowed in Islam, even to animals, let alone human beings,” Husam, a blogger, said. “She should have treated well in line with the religious precepts and social values.”
