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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.
New Indian Express
27-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Saudi court delays Abdul Rahim's release by one year
KOZHIKODE: Abdul Rahim, a native of Feroke in Kozhikode, will now serve a full 20-year sentence in Saudi Arabia following a court ruling in connection with the tragic death of a Saudi boy under his care. The Riyadh Criminal Court announced the verdict on Monday, extending Rahim's imprisonment by another year and delaying his expected release. Rahim, who has already completed 18-and-a-half-years in prison, had been hoping for an early release in six months. However, with the latest verdict, his incarceration will now continue until December 2026. The incident dates back to December 24, 2006. Rahim had arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier that year seeking better employment opportunities and worked as a driver in Riyadh. He was also assigned to care for Faiz, a 15-year-old paralysed boy in his employer's household. During a routine car ride, the boy's breathing support system was accidentally dislodged, leading to his collapse and eventual death. Though the death was widely regarded as accidental, Rahim was charged with murder under Saudi law and sentenced to death. In fact, the death penalty was issued against him on three separate occasions over the years.
