Riyadh criminal court sentences Rahim to 20 yrs imprisonment
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Riyadh: An important verdict has been delivered in the case of Kozhikode Farokh Kodampuzha native Machilakathu Abdul Rahim, who has been in a Riyadh jail for 19 years in the case of the murder of a Saudi boy. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison under public rights. The verdict was delivered in a sitting held at 9.30 am Saudi time today (Monday) at the Riyadh Criminal Court. Abdul Rahim will be released from prison around a year from now, as he has already served 19 years.
Rahim, his defence lawyers, a representative of the Indian Embassy, and the official representative of Rahim's family, Siddique Thuvvur, participated in the online sitting from prison.
The last hearing was on the 5th of this month. The case was adjourned on the grounds that more time was needed to examine the original case diary. The death sentence, which was imposed on the basis of private privilege, was commuted nine months ago after the prosecution accepted a compensation of 1.5 crore riyals (approximately 34 crore Indian rupees). However, the pending release under public law had led to an indefinite delay. 13 hearings were held in the last nine months to decide on this matter. Rahim, who is currently in the Al-Iskan prison in Riyadh, is now in his 19th year of imprisonment.