KOZHIKODE:
Kozhikode
native
Abdul Rahim
, who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for 18 years and for whom Kerala raised Rs 34cr as
blood money
, is all set to be free soon with the Riyadh criminal court revoking his
death sentence
on Tuesday.
The court also handed over the blood money cheque for 15 million Saudi riyal to the advocate who represented the family of the differently abled boy who was killed after Rahim's hand accidently hit the tube of the life support device attached to the boy's throat leading to his death.
A
Saudi court
had convicted Rahim, who was working as driver and caretaker, on charges of murdering the boy.
The family informed the court of their willingness to grant pardon to Rahim by accepting the blood money.
Rahim Legal Assistance Committee chairman K Suresh said the court order revoking the death sentence was a major milestone in securing the release of Rahim. He said the court would soon issue the order to release Rahim from prison.
"We hope Rahim's release will happen in two weeks' time," he said.
Once the release order is issued, it will be conveyed by the Saudi govt to the Indian embassy and the arrangements for Rahim's return will be made.
Rahim, hailing from Kodampuzha near Feroke, had gone to the Gulf country in Nov 2006 as a driver in the house of Saudi national Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri and was also tasked with the care of his differently abled son Anas Al Shahri.
Just one month after his arrival in Saudi, Rahim while trying to pacify Anas who became agitated during a trip hit the tube attached to the boy's throat accidentally.
Anas became unconscious and died and a court in Riyadh found Rahim guilty of murder and awarded him a death sentence.
In a remarkable show of benevolence and solidarity, people from various walks of life in the state and beyond raised the diyah money through crowdfunding in April.
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