Exemption for Malayali who was sentenced to death for adultery in Saudi; The legal battle helped

Riyadh: Malayali sentenced to death for adultery gets reprieve. Sameer Perinchery (38), a native of Otai, Malappuram, who is lodged in Riyadh Jail, has been commuted to death. Sameer was helped by the continuous legal battle. About a year ago, Sameer, who was with a group of women, was arrested in a raid conducted by the police in Batha, Riyadh, and was jailed.

The Indonesian woman in this group testified against Sameer and was sentenced to death under Sharia law on charges of adultery. With the help of his friends, he appealed to the Supreme Court, but Sameer’s death sentence was upheld.

With this, the family approached the Indian Embassy in Riyadh with a request to intervene to save Sameer from the death penalty. Social activist Sudhir Mannarkkad has been given permission by the embassy to intervene in the further proceedings of the case. Following this, the Supreme Court was again approached and the legal battle continued, and the court was ready to re-examine the case.

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The argument of the defense that the witnesses or evidence required to prove the crime against Sameer has not yet been produced in this case is crucial. The Riyadh court accepted this argument and ordered a stay of the death sentence last Thursday. But Sameer’s release from prison has not been possible. It is reported that Sameer will have to suffer punishment including imprisonment and fine as per Saudi law.