Verdict brings relief to families of accused

Dubai: The Sharjah Appeals Court has revoked the death sentences imposed on 17 members of a gang accused of causing the death of a man during a clash with a rival gang involved in bootlegging in January 2009.

The prisoners, all of whom are from India, are now to be released from jail within 10 days as per presiding Judge Abdullah Yousuf Al Shamisi's ruling Monday in the presence of general prosecutor Anwar Al Harmoudi.

Repatriation formalities

The accused and their families were visibly happy as the judge announced his ruling with the inmates waving in happiness in a packed court hall.

"It comes as a big relief to them and their families. We are now in the process of completing the formalities like getting their passports from their previous companies, getting outpasses and also clearances. After all the formalities are completed, they will be sent back to India," S.P. Singh Oberoi, a Dubai-based hotelier who arranged for Dh3.4 million towards the blood money told Gulf News.

Abdullah Salman, the lawyer for the accused, told Gulf News he was very happy with the ruling. Salman's father also represented the accused.

The family of a Pakistani man, who was allegedly murdered by the 17 men, received the blood money payment of Dh3.4 million on July 27 in court and signed a pardon for the suspects. The money was deposited in the court to be transferred to the family.

Presiding Judge Abdullah Yousuf Al Shamisi ordered the accused to be deported at the end of their jail term, a procedure defence lawyer Mohammad Salman said would take between one week and 10 days during which the men would remain in prison.

Remission

The court reduced the individual punishment of the accused to two years' imprisonment followed by deportation. The men, who have now spent more than two years in jail, are now expected to be released within a 10-day period, according to Salman.

The 17 Indian men were arrested following the death of Khan in Sharjah's Sajaa industrial area in January 2009, following a dispute between rival gangs involved in bootlegging.

The Sharjah Court of First Instance had pronounced a death sentence against all of the accused in March 2010, following which the government of India decided to appeal the verdict and defend the accused.

"During the appeals process, the Honourable Sharjah Court of Appeals suggested that both sides consider a mutually agreeable understanding for an early resolution of the case. Such an understanding was also desired by the accused. Guided by the same opinion, some members of the Indian community, led by Oberoi, independently contacted, pursued and reached a compromise with the family of the deceased," said the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

This verdict is expected to be final as the relatives of the Pakistani victim accepted the blood money and signed pardon papers for the suspects, said an official prosecutor.

The consulate said travel documents are being processed and that it will arrange for air tickets to India for all the accused.