Indians on death row: Victim’s family ready for blood money

SHARJAH - Seventeen Indians who are facing death sentence for killing a Pakistani man in the UAE have been provided a lifeline by the victim’s family who have agreed to settle the case if they are provided with compensation, including blood money.

Khaleej Times reported Friday that the victim’s family wants the men to be executed if they disagreed.

The victim’s family had refused any such settlement till the last hearing and wanted the 17 Indians to be executed as ruled by the Sharjah Shariah Court of First Instance.

A total of 17 Indians, including 16 from Punjab and one from Haryana, were sentenced to death by a court in Sharjah in March 2010 for killing the Pakistani man and injuring three in January 2009 following a fight over illegal liquor business. The murder took place in Al Sajaa area of Sharjah.

The Court of Appeal adjourned Wednesdays hearing to Feb 17, 2011 after a representative of the victims family presented the fresh request.

A representative, who has official authorisation from the victims family, told the court: The family wants compensation, including diya (blood money), or qasas (death sentence) if the defendants refuse to pay the compensation.

The court panel presided by Judge Abdulla Yousuf Al Shamsi, Judge Ahmed Labib and Public Prosecutor Mustafa Al Barodi referred the settlement application to the defence lawyers who said they would discuss the proposal with the families of the defendants and a representative of the Indian Consulate in Dubai, the media report said.

Mohammed Salman, official spokesman of the defence team, said their clients would accept the settlement and pay money to the family.

A spokesperson for the Indian Consulate in Dubai said: The next hearing is on February 17. Our lawyers are preparing for it.