Domestic help acquitted in theft case

Prosecution fails to produce any witnesses; only Rs2,000 recovered during probe

ISLAMABAD:

A local court acquitted on Wednesday a domestic worker in a high-value theft case involving alleged losses of nearly Rs250 million.

The accused, Rukhsana Bibi, had been charged with stealing Rs400,000, £500,000, and 500,000 Saudi riyals from a residence. However, during the course of the investigation, only Rs2,000 was reportedly recovered.

Judicial Magistrate Islamabad East, Rizwanuddin, accepted the acquittal application, observing in his written judgement that despite repeated opportunities, the prosecution failed to produce a single witness.

The court noted that even if the available evidence were to be formally recorded, the likelihood of conviction remained negligible.

The case had been registered in January 2024 at Loi Bher Police Station on the complaint of a resident of the PWD area. Representing the accused, Advocate Habib Hanzala argued that his client was innocent and had been falsely implicated with malicious intent.

According to the complainant, Sajida Zahid, the domestic worker had stolen substantial cash and foreign currency from her home. However, the court termed the prosecution's narrative highly questionable, noting inconsistencies and lack of credible evidence.

The judgement highlighted that it was implausible for such a large amount of money to be kept at home while entrusting the house keys to a domestic worker. Furthermore, no documentary or legal proof was presented to establish the presence or theft of the foreign currency.

The court also pointed out that although neighbours had allegedly informed the complainant about the domestic worker entering the house, no statements under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code were placed on record.

It further observed that despite multiple opportunities, the prosecution failed to substantiate its claims or present witnesses. The recovery of Rs2,000 from the accused, without any identification or supporting details, was deemed to hold no evidentiary value.

Declaring the prosecution's case doubtful, the court reiterated the settled principle that the benefit of doubt must always be extended to the accused.