Ethiopians seek probe into maid's death

The Peninsula | August 28, 2006

In a letter addressed to a local daily which first reported the incident, Nabiyou Gezehagne, has demanded investigation in the incident to "confirm the cause of death of Fate Sabir Shifa", the 27-year-old Ethiopian maid, who was found hanging from the twin pipes of a large geyser.

Gezehagne has expressed doubts in the letter written in English about the "half-inch thick copper pipes" holding the 50-kg body of the deceased and "remaining intact".

Gezehagne said that he and some of his compatriots visited the house of the maid's sponsor and inspected the bathroom and took photographs. He even enclosed some pictures for use by the said daily. A picture published by the newspaper shows the lower portion of the water heater and the two copper pipes supporting it.

"The piping is completely intact," said Gezehagne. He said that reports that the deceased was under pressure to send money to her family in Ethiopia are baseless.

Although she made regular money transfers home, about which there is evidence, there was no pressure on her to remit funds. "We have spoken to her family and they have confirmed that there was no undue pressure on her to send money," said Gezehagne.

"We would like to see the report of the autopsy and full investigation launched in the incident," he said.

He lauded Qatar as a country where justice prevails and urged the authorities concerned to ensure that there was no foul play involved in her death.