An Asian housemaid was found dead, seriously injured after falling down the service shaft of her 8th floor apartment in Abu Dhabi, out of fear of being arrested for violating the residency law. Preliminary investigations didn’t reveal any criminal activity or foul play.
Colonel Dr. Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Abu Dhabi Police stated: “Fearful of being arrested for violating the residency law, the housemaid R.A (28 years) fell to her death while trying to escape from an inspector who knocked on her apartment door to issue a “laundry hanging” violation. Thinking at first glance that he’s searching for offenders, she tried to climb down the drainage pipes within the building’s service shaft thus falling to her death.
Borshid commented on the incident, saying: "This reflects the state of fear and anxiety experienced by individuals who violate the residency law, unaware of the truth of things; which explains why they try to escape in any means possible, even at the expense of their life”.
He added: "This unfortunate incident, as he described it, emphasizes the unknown fate that could befall on the residency law violators if they try to escape, instead of surrendering to the competent authorities."
He suggested that escaping through drain pipes was a spur of the moment idea; which occurred to the housemaid when the inspector knocked at the door; thinking that he’s a police officer who has come to arrest residency law violators in a clampdown campaign.
According to preliminary investigations, Borshid confirmed that there is no criminal suspicion, in the case of the housemaid who fell from the eighth floor after trying to escape through a large window overlooking the building’s service shaft from the lavatory, which caused her to die affected by her injuries.
He called on all institutions and individuals, not to harbor or employ violators and infiltrators, urging them to discourage violators from residing unlawfully in the State. He also stressed the importance of solidarity between community members, individuals, families, groups and institutions, in rejecting the violators, refusing to give them work, reporting their whereabouts and denying them support and assistance.
For his part, Lt. Colonel Jumaa Al Kaabi, Head of Psychological Crimes at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Abu Dhabi Police, stated that the Operations Room of Abu Dhabi Police received a call reporting that a woman fell inside a building’s service shaft in Al Khalideyah St. in Abu Dhabi. Police patrols and competent rescue teams were rushed to the scene.
He added: “The woman’s body was found on the service shaft’s floor, presenting various cuts and fractures. A team was formed to investigate the circumstances and reasons behind the incident.
Al Kaabi continued: “Upon gathering preliminary information, investigations revealed that the housemaid fell by herself after attempting to escape from an inspector who explained, after opening the apartment door, that he’s issuing a "laundry hanging" violation. The housemaid thought that he’s a police officer arresting violators, so she tried to hide in the bathroom, and then escape through the window overlooking the building’s service shaft, climbing down drainage pipes and falling to her death.
Al Kaabi concluded: “State laws, including the law of entry and residence of foreigners, aim to protect people from themselves and achieve general protection of society. Therefore, any violation of those laws would threaten all community members.”
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