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Maid's Life Spared

AL-AIN, United Arab Emirates -- Filipina maid Sarah Balabagan, embracing her parents for the first time since escaping execution for the killing of her United Arab Emirates employer, said Wednesday she was sure she would soon be released from prison.


"I am very confident I will be freed soon," said Balabagan, who Saturday was spared execution by the family of the man she killed last year.


The family agreed to drop their demand for the death sentence in exchange for blood money after UAE President Sheikh Zaid Bin Sultan al- Nahayan intervened personally and urged mercy.

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