Sharjah football star sentenced to death for car-park murder released from jail

Sharjah: A Sharjah football star, who was sentenced to death in June 2011 for a parking-lot slaying, walked out of prison a free man on Monday afternoon following a move by the victim’s family to pardon him.

The pardon prompted the Federal Supreme Court last week to issue the ruling that Fayez Juma serve three years in prison but, since he had already served a three-year jail term he was free to leave.

Three other men who were also sentenced to death in the case will be released on Tuesday as their papers have not yet been completed following the pardon.

Juma, a former star player with the Sharjah Club in the Arabian Gulf League, was facing the death penalty until two weeks ago when the victim’s family pardoned him, which ultimately led to the commuting of his death sentence and allowed for his release.

Juma’s lawyer, Saleem Sahoo, said that Juma had reunited with his family at their house in Sharjah and he was overjoyed to be home. Juma needs to undergo a rehabilitation programme for at least a year to adapt to his new life.

“It is too early to say whether he will play football again or whether he will choose another career,” Sahoo told Gulf News on Monday.

Long legal battle

Juma winning his freedom brings to an end a long legal battle for the footballer who has been behind bars since March 2009.

The footballer was sentenced to death on June 14, 2011 after the UAE’s highest court overturned his one-year jail term for the murder of his compatriot.

The Federal Supreme Court handed out the verdict to Juma along with others after a scuffle in a car park in Sharjah resulted in the victim’s death.

Court records said the defendants brought swords and knives and stabbed the victim to death.

Court proceedings, which attracted unprecedented media coverage, began in March 2009.

Juma avoided capital punishment after the Sharjah Appeals Court acquitted him of the premeditated murder of his compatriot.

However, the victim’s parents and prosecutors appealed Juma’s acquittal before the Supreme Court.

At the time, the family sought up to Dh1 million damages and blood money but recently had a substantial change of heart and decided to pardon Juma.

“I don’t want blood money. I pardon him for Almighty’s sake,” said the mother, speaking via her lawyer on January 28.

The Supreme Court reversed the acquittal and referred the case back to the Sharjah Appeals Court. A new panel of judges looked into the case.