JEDDAH — An Ethiopian maid has been arrested in Jeddah for allegedly burning the face of a two-year-old boy in her care with an iron. Police said the child, identified as Abdul Aziz, was airlifted to hospital with severe burns. Abdul Aziz's father said he believed the maid, identified as Madanyia, intentionally tortured his son by burning him in the same place more than once. According to the father, who lives in Al-Safa district of the city and works at King Abdulaziz University, on the day of the incident his wife took her son on a family visit and returned home before dinner. When they started eating Abdul Aziz stood up and went into the kitchen to bring an empty plate. He added: “At this point the maid escorted him to the kitchen. “I thought that she wanted to help him. I never thought in my wildest dreams she went in to burn him with an iron. “He started screaming and we all ran into the kitchen to find out what had happened.” He said he could not believe his eyes when he found the maid holding the iron in her hand and saw the child had burns on his right cheek. He was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed him with severe burns. Police arrived at the scene and transferred the maid to Al-Shamalyia police station where she is currently being questioned. Col. Misfer Al-Juaid, Jeddah police spokesman, said the maid was interrogated at the police station and then referred to the Investigation and Prosecution Board. He advised families not to inform their maids if they are to be deported to avoid giving them a motive to commit such crimes against employers' children. He said it was believed this was the reason Madanyia burned Abdul Aziz's face.
