Latest news with #PublicRightsAct
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rahim gets 20-year RI in murder case; likely to be released next year
Abdul Rahim, a native of Kodampuzha in Kozhikode, who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past 19 years over murder charge, has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Riyadh Criminal Court. However, since he has already completed 19 years in jail, he is likely to be released in December 2026. It was in 2006 that Mr. Rahim was imprisoned and sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for the murder of the 14-year-old differently abled son of his employer. Though Mr. Rahim claimed that it was an accident, his words had no weight against that of his employer. The efforts to get him released from jail started quite recently. The turning point in the case arose when the Malayali diaspora across the globe succeeded in raising ₹35 crore, the blood money the victim's family had demanded, in one of the biggest crowdfunding efforts in the State, in May 2024. The family of the victim agreed to cancel the death sentence after receiving the money. However, since Saudi law addresses crimes as offences against society, Rahim was also tried under the Public Rights Act. After 13 court sessions over nine months, the final verdict was made on May 26. Rahim, his legal counsel, officials of the Indian embassy, and Siddique Thuvvoor, who represented his family, had attended the final session.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
Abdul Rahim to be free in a year
Kozhikode: The release of Feroke native Abdul Rahim, who is languishing in a Saudi jail over the death of his sponsor's son, will have to wait one more year, as the Riyadh court on Monday sentenced him to a 20-year sentence. As Rahim already served 19 years in prison, he will be released after one more year. Though the death sentence awarded to Rahim was withdrawn following the payment of diya money of Rs 34 crore, raised through crowdfunding, the court on Monday sentenced Rahim to 20 years' imprisonment under the Public Rights Act. The verdict was issued during a sitting held at the Riyadh Criminal Court. During the online sitting, Rahim participated from prison along with his defence lawyers, a representative from the Indian Embassy and Siddique Thuvvur, the official representative of Rahim's family. The previous sitting was held on May 5. The death sentence, which was issued based on private rights laws, was annulled nine months ago after the victim's family accepted blood money and granted a pardon. However, as the case under public rights was not resolved, Rahim's release was indefinitely delayed. In the past nine months, 13 sittings were held in the case.
