Saudi Princess Is Charged in Assault

A Saudi princess was charged with beating her maid and pushing her down a flight of stairs.

Princess Buniah al-Saud, the 41-year-old niece of King Fahd, was arrested Monday on aggravated battery charges punishable by 15 years in prison.

She was also charged Tuesday with stealing $6,000 worth of electronic equipment from her chauffeur, whose apartment she was staying in.

The princess was freed Tuesday on $5,000 bail and told to surrender her passport. After her release, she was whisked away in a waiting limousine.

The Saudi Embassy in Washington said the princess had diplomatic immunity. But the Immigration and Naturalization Service said Al-Saud failed to notify the agency of her itinerary in America, thereby leaving her without diplomatic immunity.

To claim diplomatic immunity, a person must be accredited with his or her embassy or consulate and must be in the host country fulfilling a diplomatic function, according to the State Department.

The princess has been living in Orlando while studying English at the University of Central Florida.

Neighbors called 911 on Friday after Memet Ismiyati, Al-Saud’s 36-year-old Indonesian maid, ran crying from the apartment she shared with the princess. She told deputies Al-Saud beat her, hit her head against a wall and pushed her down a flight of stairs. Ismiyati was treated at a hospital and released.

When deputies went to the princess’ apartment Friday, she denied striking or pushing the maid.

During a court appearance Tuesday, Al-Saud, dressed in a blue jail jumpsuit, said nothing but smiled brightly as the hearing began.

Another Saudi princess was accused six years ago of beating her servants while visiting Orlando.

Princess Maha Al-Sudairi, wife of the heir to the Saudi throne, allegedly beat a servant in front of sheriff’s deputies providing off-duty security for the princess. No charges were ever filed. The princess suspected the servant of stealing $200,000 in cash and jewelry.