Filipino maid leaps to death after Hong Kong bosses fire her for unproven theft

A domestic helper jumped to her death from a Sha Tin flat yesterday morning after she was accused by her employers of stealing and fired from the job – all while police officers were still taking notes inside the home.

The police were called in to look into allegations by the employers, a couple, that their 47-year-old Filipino helper of two years had been caught sifting through the handbag of a female friend at their 16th-floor Ravana Garden flat in On King Street.

It was understood that the family friend was unable to recall how much money she had inside the bag and the officers were ready to end the investigation, but the couple insisted on firing the helper and told her to pack her belongings.

An initial investigation showed that while she was packing in her bedroom at about 10am, she became emotional and jumped out of a window, police said. She was certified dead at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Police believed there was nothing suspicious about the death and were handling the case as a suicide, possibly over “work issues”. No suicide note was left and an autopsy would be held to determine the cause of death.