His brother MP Nazeer told South First that the court which considered Rahim's case on 2 July revoked the decapitation punishment.
Abdul Rahim. (Supplied)
Kozhikode native Abdul Rahim, sentenced to death row at Al-Malaz Prison in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and for whom Kerala raised a staggering sum of ₹34 crore as blood money for his release, may get released soon.
His brother MP Nazeer told South First that the court which considered Rahim’s case on Tuesday, 2 July, revoked the decapitation punishment.
The court also handed over the blood money to the advocate, who represents the family of the boy, whom Abdul Rahim accidentally killed.
For the past 18 years, Abdul Rahim has been languishing in jail after being convicted of the murder of a specially-abled boy in Saudi Arabia’s capital.
It is learnt that in 2006, he accidentally dislodged the life support of the boy, leading to his death.
The incident is said to have happened on the 28th day of his arrival in Saudi. He was recruited as a driver to take care of the boy.
It was in 2023 that the family of the deceased boy decided to pardon Abdul Rahim upon paying blood money of ₹34 crore.
Then, an Abdul Rahim Legal Assistance Committee, which was set up by bringing representatives of various political parties, social/religious leaders, and common people under one umbrella, kickstarted a crowdfunding drive by setting up a bank account and then an app “Save Abdul Rahim”.
The fund collection, which started at a slow pace, gained momentum in the last few weeks as the deadline for handing over the amount was set as 16 April by the mediators.
On 12 April the “Save Abdul Rahim” campaign became successful through a remarkable display of collective effort and compassion.
The Abdul Rahim Legal Assistance Committee has brushed aside reports that it was the people of the state who alone raised the blood money.
Talking to South First earlier, committee’s convener KK Alikutty said that non-resident Keralites, residents from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Andaman and others had contributed towards this cause.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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