By Nour Abuzant
A TWO-YEAR jail term given to a housemaid accused of an illicit affair has been upheld following an official blunder that meant she spent 29 months in prison.
The first trial was conducted in the woman’s absence after officials failed to bring her to court. She only discovered her case had been dealt with in November – and she had served five more months than was necessary.
Although the Indonesian woman can appeal the court’s decision, sources told Gulf Times she was unlikely to do so as it would only prolong her stay in Qatar away from the family she has not seen for four years.
The 38-year-old maid was charged with conducting an illicit affair in August 2006. It was alleged that she had a relationship with a 29-year-old Sri Lankan driver. The maid was imprisoned while awaiting trial, but the driver was released on bail. He subsequently fled the country.
The woman was not brought to face the allegations and she was tried and sentenced in absentia on March 29, 2007. The court ordered she be deported once her sentence was served.
Therefore, when the maid discovered the mix-up she was not only horrified to learn she been found guilty in her absence, but that she had also been in prison five months longer than she needed to be.
According to court papers, the maid and the driver had allegedly confessed to an affair under interrogation. This apparent confession led the court to come to a guilty verdict.
The charge sheet clearly stated that the Indonesian woman was in police custody.
A legal source earlier told Gulf Times: “It is silly to presume that the housemaid knew about the verdict earlier, that she was somehow enjoying her life behind bars with nice food and hospitality, and then she suddenly became bored.”
