By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Hopes of reprieve for 26-year-old Simil, facing death in Kuwait for accidentally killing a friend and co-worker, have brightened as Congress leader Oommen Chandy has raised Rs.600,000 to be given to the victim’s wife as compensation.
Chandy said that after learning of Simil’s plight he spoke to people in Kuwait and Rs.600,000 had been raised to pay the compensation.
“The money is ready and I have asked the mediators to see that it reaches the hands of the wife of Simil’s colleague in Andhra Pradesh,” Chandy told IANS Monday.
“And once the money is received all the necessary papers will be readied and sent to Kuwait to facilitate Simil’s release,” he said.
Simil who worked in a resort in Kuwait, accidentally stabbed his friend, Suresh, on Nov 21, 2007 in a scuffle that broke out between the winners and losers after a cricket match.
The sharp Kuwaiti knife sliced through 31-year-old Suresh’s neck. Suresh, a native of Cuddapah district in Andhra Pradesh, died in a few minutes, leaving behind a wife and two children.
Simil went to the nearest police station and owned up his crime.
Simil, who belongs to a poor fisherman’s family near Thottapaly, went to Kuwait after mortgaging his home for the passage money.
P. Sabu, a village council member from Simil’s hometown, went to Cuddapah Feb 10, along with fellow villagers, to plead to Suresh’s wife to pardon Simil. She has agreed, according to Sabu.
Sabu told IANS that they were waiting to hear from the president of the council of Suresh’s village who is acting as intermediary between them and the widow.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi was scheduled to meet Simil’s parents, who are unwell, later Monday.
Sabu went to plead with Suresh’s wife for Simil’s life as, according to the Sharia law followed in Kuwait, only the victim’s wife can pardon the killer.
“It was agreed that a sum of Rs.600,000 would be paid as compensation to Suresh’s wife following which she would sign the papers for his pardon,” Sabu said.