Mon, 2013-02-18 04:12 — editor
By K.T.Rajasingham
Doha, 18 February, (Asiantribune.com):
The lawyer appointed by Venkadasalam Sudeshkar’s
mother has already filed appeal in the Supreme Court of Qatar against the death
sentence imposed by the Appeal Court of Qatar, on Sudeshkar’s mother has retained Dr. Mohamad Bin Ahamed
Al- Mohannadi, the Qatari lawyer who appeared for him in the Court of Appeal
and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has agreed to pay Qatari Riyal
25,000/ (Twenty-five thousand) as the retainer for the lawyer.
Asian Tribune learnt all the connected papers for appeal had been handed
over to the Qatari lawyer by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Qatar and the lawyer has
filed the necessary appeal papers with the Supreme Court of Qatar.
Venkadasalam Sudeshkar is a Sri Lanka from Kala Eliya,
and holder of Sri Lankan Passport No. 4031544.
He arrived in Doha and worked in a wholesale market,
close to the Industrial Area in Doha.
At the same time, his mother and one his relative
woman was also working as House Maids in an Arabic House in Doha. At the same
house, one Arif Mohideen (27 years) from Puthur Taluk, D.K. District, Karnadaka
State, India, also worked as a driver.
Reports revealed that this driver was having an affair
with the Sri Lankan woman who was working in the same house he was employed as
driver.
Report further revealed that Sudeshkar too was
involved in an affair with the same woman.
It was reported that rivalry over the woman has
motivated Sudeshkar to take revenge on the Indian Driver.
According
to police report, Sudeshkar bought a lethal weapon – a knife and on the following
day in the night, he went and knocked at the door of Arif Mohideen- the Indian
Driver and when he opened the door, it was alleged that Sudeskar stabbed him
and Arif Mohideen, the driver succumbed to the stab injuries and died
instantaneously.
Once
the victim died, Sudeshkar, it was alleged, ran away and was in the hiding, but
the police traced him and arrested him.
In
the meantime, the mother of Sudeshkar and the other woman were sent back to Sri
Lanka.
At
the time of committing the murder, Sudeshkar was 21 years old, to be exact - 20
years and 6 months.
Sudeshkar
was indicted on charges of premeditated murder and the case was filed in the
Court of First Instance, Doha. Qatar Government provided Sudashkar with a
lawyer to defend. The panel of judges who heard the case delivered their
verdict of ‘Life Imprisonment’ on 13 March 2012.
Subsequent
to the verdict of the lower court, Sudeshkar filed an appeal against the life
sentence imposed on him in the Court of Appeal. At the same time, prosecutors
also filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal pointing out that the victim was a
Muslim and this case has to be tried under Shariah law.
The
Appeal Court delivered it sentence on 31st December 2012, commuting for
premeditated murder.
According
to the Judicial system of Qatar, Sudeshkar can make one more appeal of his case
to the Supreme Court of Qatar and the appeal has to be filed before the end of
the month of February 2013.
Therefore,
Sudeshkar mother has retained the same lawyer who appeared for him in the court
of Appeal and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Qatar has handed over all the papers
needed for filing the appeal in the Supreme Court.
In
the meantime, one Iyappan Priyadharshan, a cousin brother of Sudeshkar who also
works in Qatar, returned back to Doha from Sri Lanka after his annual holidays.
He went and met the Sri Lankan Embassy and informed them that the family has
already made arrangements of Qatari Riyal 100,000 (One hundred thousand) to be
paid as blood money to the victims family in Karnataka, India. Also he has told
the Embassy that Sudhaskar’s family is in contact with the victim’s family over
blood money.
At
the same time, victims own Brother Ameed Mohideen, who also works in Doha as a
driver has too contacted the Sri Lankan Embassy in Doha and told that his
family is ready to accept the blood money and grant pardon to Sudeshkar .
It
is learnt that Sri Lanka Embassy in Qatar is in touch with the Deputy High
Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, which look after the state of Karnataka
also, for some legally attested documents from the victims family to be
included in the appeal papers already filed in the Supreme Court.
Asian Tribunealso learnt that in case the blood money is paid
to the victims family and they grant pardon, then Sudeshkar could be saved from
being beheaded according to Shariah law, but it all depends on the Supreme
Court to decide whether he will be immediately deported back to Sri Lanka or
will be sentenced to serve for a prescribed period in prison in Qatar.
-
Asian Tribune -
