Kozhikode : In a major relief to the family members and friends of Abdul Rahim, a Kozhikode native who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past 18 years is all set to return back home after a Saudi court has revoked his death penalty in a case relating to the accidental death of his sponsor’s paralysed son in 2006.
The Riyadh Criminal Court on Tuesday revoked the 44-year-old’s death penalty after the victims family accepted Rahim’s apology and informed the court of their decision to grant him amnesty.
Earlier this year with the support of his friends and well-wishers, a ‘Blood Money’ of Rs 34 crore — raised through crowdfunding — was handed over to the victim’s family. The court is expected to issue the release order soon.
The news has brought relief to the family members, friends and all those who helped in financially contributing for the blood money that was later transferred to the family of the victim.
Their efforts to collect the money began in 2023 when culminated in a successful crowdfunding initiative that played a crucial role in securing Rahim’s amnesty. The initiative that was supported by various businessmen including Bobby Chemmannoor raised a whopping 15 million Saudi Riyals (around Rs 34 crore), which was handed over to the Riyadh governorate via the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia for transfer to the royal court.
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Abdul Rahim, an autorickshaw driver in Feroke, was just 26 when he reached Saudi Arabia in search of a better livelihood and started working for a Saudi citizen as his driver and caretaker of his son, who was partially paralysed. The boy breathed and ate through a special device attached to his neck. As per Abdul Rahim’s version of the fatal incident, he accidentally dislocated the instrument while trying to control the boy who was making a fuss demanding him to violate a red signal on the road. The boy soon fainted and before reaching the hospital, the boy was declared dead. Rahim was arrested and sent to the jail in Riyadh.
Rahim’s counsel had informed the court about the incident, however it was a bitter fought legal battle since then.
It was in 2018 that Mr. Rahim was sentenced to be executed and the victim’s family was not ready to forgive him. However, they eventually agreed for a blood money of 15 million Saudi riyals (roughly ₹34 crore). However, Malayali brethren from all walks of life did everything from Biriyani Challenge to selling tea during this period to raise the funds to deposit in the Saudi court for Abdul Rahim,
‘Rahim’s release to be confirmed by the Riyadh governorate’
“Once the court issues the order, the Riyadh governorate has to issue an order confirming Rahim’s release,” said Naseeb C P, a representative of the Abdul Rahim Legal Assistance Committee. “Once this is completed, Rahim will finally be able to return to his home-town in Kozhikode and reunite with his grieving mother,” he said.
The Riyadh Criminal Court on Tuesday revoked the 44-year-old’s death penalty after the victims family accepted Rahim’s apology and informed the court of their decision to grant him amnesty. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
