Housekeeper Accused of Stealing Jordanian Princess's Jewelry for Auction

A housekeeper accused of stealing tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewelry from a Jordanian princess, HRH Princess Firyal Irshaid, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court. Maria Virgelina Taborda Henao, 71, allegedly used her nephew, Julian Ramirez, as a conduit to sell the high-end items at auction. Among the stolen items was Princess Firyal's wedding ring, given to her by her then-husband Prince Muhammad bin Talal in 1964. The princess had believed the ring was lost years ago before it was discovered among other allegedly stolen items at Taborda Henao's home in Fulham, London.

Taborda Henao denies one count of theft. Prosecutors claim she and her nephew, who has since fled to Colombia, were engaged in an "extremely lucrative" joint enterprise. The prosecution's case relies on evidence including Taborda Henao's trusted position, her access to the princess's possessions, the discovery of stolen property at her address, and substantial payments received from her nephew.

Taborda Henao had been employed as the princess's housekeeper in Belgravia for over a decade. In 2020, when the princess returned to Jordan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taborda Henao was left alone in the property. Her sister, Teresita, who is Ramirez's mother, reportedly moved in temporarily to assist with cleaning.

In November 2020, while still in Jordan, Princess Firyal was contacted by high-end jewelers House of JAR in Paris. They informed her that a bespoke piece made for her had appeared for auction in England. The princess then identified other jewelry items that had been put up for sale without her knowledge and contacted the police. Detectives arrested Taborda Henao at the princess's residence and later found stolen items, including earrings and the wedding ring, at her Fulham home.

Prosecutor Oliver Wellings told the court that the princess had considered her wedding ring lost and would never have given away such a personal item. An examination of auction listings revealed several of her personal items had been listed over the preceding six months. Upon her return to the UK, the princess discovered that "much of her jewellery was missing," with only costume jewelry remaining, and empty boxes where valuable pieces had been stored. The safe where the jewelry was kept was found locked, but its combination and backup key were inoperable.

The auction house manager stated he first met Ramirez in 2019 when he sold a Patek Philippe watch for over £10,000. Ramirez subsequently sold several items through the auction house. The alleged operation was uncovered when Princess Firyal alerted the auctioneers in November 2020 that they were in possession of stolen items.

Records show that Ramirez transferred approximately £18,000 to Taborda Henao between June 2019 and November 2020. Ramirez is believed to have left for Colombia in October 2023 while on police bail. Taborda Henao, who required a Spanish translator during court proceedings, maintains her innocence.