Yet another roadblock for Abdul Rahim's release; Riyadh court adjourns case again

RIYADH: The release of Kozhikode Farook native Abdul Rahim, serving jail term in Saudi, hit a roadblock again. The Legal Aid Committee announced that the court adjourned the case yet again. Tuesday's decision marks the tenth time the court has adjourned Rahim’s case.

Abdul Rahim’s defence lawyers, Indian Embassy representative Sawad, and family representative Siddique Thuvvur were at the hearing, which began at 11 am. Abdul Rahim was jailed in December 2006 for the murder of Saudi boy Anas Al-Shahiri.

Rahim, who was sentenced to death, was released after his family paid the blood money of Rs 34 crore to the victim’s family.

Rahim was imprisoned for a murder case less than a month after arriving in Riyadh in 2006, for a job as a driver. Although the death penalty was commuted through clemency, uncertainty regarding the release continued due to the lack of a resolution to the public rights case. The previous hearing was held on March 3rd.