MAKKAH, 21 May — An Indonesian maid who escaped after stealing SR50,000 from her employer’s home was arrested in Taif, thanks to sensible action by a Saudi woman whom she approached for help.
Susikwati Gouri Saad, 30, had spent only one week working with a Saudi family in Makkah when her employer went to Jeddah on a visit leaving her alone at home. She took the opportunity to steal the money and her passport from the house, the Okaz newspaper said in a report yesterday.
Her employer returned home later with a guest. While retiring for the night, he had left the main door of his house unlocked for his visitor’s convenience. “This helped the woman to escape unnoticed,” the paper said quoting sources close to the family.
The Indonesian woman paid a taxi driver SR300 to take her to Taif where she had worked several years ago. She approached her former employer, a Saudi woman, with the intention of staying with her.
The Saudi woman sensed something was amiss. She found out the name of the recruitment office from Susikwati’s passport and informed them about the absconding maid. The recruitment office, in turn, contacted the sponsor in Makkah who handed her over to the police.
Col. Muhammad Al-Saadi of the Moabada police commended the Saudi woman for her wise move and said it was a good example for others to follow. Susikwati’s sponsor expressed his willingness to bail her out of jail, but he wants the authorities to issue him a visa to recruit a new housemaid, the paper said.
