Abu Dhabi: A village in Kerala, India, came together to raise more than Dh100,000 in crowdfunding to secure the release of a man on death row in Abu Dhabi.
Santosh Prabhakaran, 41, was sentenced to death by the Court of First Instance in Abu Dhabi for the murder of his colleague Subin Varghese in 2011.
According to sources close to the case, Prabhakaran and Varghese, both from Kerala, were working as electricians for a contracting company in Abu Dhabi.
Prabhakaran allegedly stabbed Varghese to death following a drunken brawl in their room in Mussafah, an industrial district in Abu Dhabi.
Pabhakaran, married with an eight-year-old daughter, is currently in the Abu Dhabi Central Prison awaiting the final hearing in the case at the Appeals Court on October 27.
Meanwhile, the family of the victim has agreed to pardon the prisoner in return for blood money equivalent to Rs5 million (about Dh277,000).
But with Prabhakaran’s family unable to raise the amount by themselves, his wife Sheena Nakulan, 29, appealed to the generosity of the people of Kadakkal village in Kollam district to save her husband.
Overwhelming response
The response was overwhelming. In less than a month, people from the village raised about half the amount (Dh100,000) through crowd funding.
The office of the Kerala chief minister has also offered to help, according to social workers in Abu Dhabi who are helping out with the case.
Speaking to XPRESS from Kerala by phone, Deepu Chithrasenan, a local leader in Kadakkal, said the entire village stood behind the cause.
“A multi-party meet was held last month, and all leaders made door-to-door visits to raise funds,” said Chithrasenan.
“People also appealed for help through Facebook posts and many expatriate organisations based in the Gulf generously contributed,” he added.
Nakulan said she has no words to thank those who stood by her at this critical time.
“I never expected this kind of support. I am very thankful. Now I am waiting for the day when my husband will be able to come back home,” she said.
She also thanked Varghese’s family for their understanding and kindness.
Ashraf Pattambi, a social worker in Abu Dhabi, said he is liaising with the concerned authorities, including the Indian Embassy, for legal representation for Prabhakaran to expedite the matter.
