Jordanian princess’s former housekeeper denies stealing jewellery from Belgravia home
Princess Firyal Irshaid told a court that jewellery went missing from her Belgravia home while she was abroad during the pandemic. Her former housekeeper, Maria Taborda Henao, denies stealing it; the case matters because prosecutors allege she had sole authorised access to the home and that some pieces were sold at auction.
The court heard that items included a wedding ring, a custom sapphire and diamond ring, and earrings. Police reportedly found several pieces at Taborda Henao’s home, while prosecutors said her nephew received about £90,000 from auction sales and transferred nearly £18,000 to her. One pair of earrings bought for £28,750 was sold for £400; the nephew has not returned to Britain, jurors heard.
- Princess Firyal says jewellery disappeared while she was abroad.
- Her former housekeeper denies the theft allegations.
- Prosecutors cite auction sales and payments to her nephew.
New here? Start with this
A Jordanian princess has reported that valuable jewellery disappeared from her Belgravia home during the Covid-19 pandemic whilst she was abroad. Her former housekeeper, who had sole authorised access to the property at the time, is now facing allegations that she took the items.
Police found some of the missing pieces at the housekeeper's residence, whilst other jewellery items were sold at auction. Financial records show that the housekeeper's nephew received approximately £90,000 from auction sales, with roughly £18,000 transferred to the housekeeper. One pair of earrings originally bought for £28,750 sold for just £400.
The case raises questions about who was responsible for the missing items in circumstances where the homeowner had to be absent during pandemic lockdowns. The jewellery in question includes a wedding ring, a custom sapphire and diamond ring, and earrings.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The defendant held sole authorised access to a locked home from which the jewellery went missing. Multiple items matching the princess's descriptions were recovered at the defendant's residence, subsequently sold at auction, with proceeds of approximately £90,000 routed through her nephew and nearly £18,000 transferred directly to her. The sequence of facts—exclusive access, possession of the missing items, their swift disposal, and clear financial benefit flowing to her—presents substantial circumstantial evidence of theft.
The case against
Access to a property, whilst potentially incriminating, does not establish criminal guilt beyond reasonable doubt. An employee with authorised access to a home may innocently possess items; financial transactions with family members do not inherently prove involvement in theft; and the passage of time during the princess's absence abroad creates reasonable scope for alternative explanations about when items went missing and by whose hand. Circumstantial evidence alone cannot overcome the presumption of innocence without establishing a chain that excludes other reasonable possibilities.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Pictured: Jewellery ‘stolen by cleaner from Jordanian princess’ as court hears she accused multiple members of staff of thieving from her Belgravia home”.