Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Mar 22: Last year, 33-year-old Rasheed Shafi, a former marketing manager in Kampala, Uganda, was robbed of 10,000 dollars belonging to the company he was employed with. Since then, life became a nightmare for him as the company held him responsible and asked him to pay back the amount. When he could not, he was jailed.

On Wednesday March 22, Shafi's Somalian wife and their three children arrived in Mangaluru, while he continues to await justice in Uganda.

Informing this at a press meet here on Wednesday, Shahul Hameed, trustee of MFriends Mangaluru said, "Shafi was robbed of cash that belonged to his company. Shafi's wife who hails from Somalia and his three children aged five, three and one year, reached Mangaluru this morning.

"The trouble in Rasheed's life began last July when he was robbed of 10,000 dollars in cash and the office keys that were in his possession," Hameed recounted.

"Rasheed was working for a Gujarat-based company. He is said to have filed a police complaint soon after the robbery which incidentally took place close to a police station. But the company held him responsible for the loss and gave him a deadline to repay the amount. When he failed to settle the amount, a case was filed against him on October 3, and he was jailed in Uganda. He was then released on bail on December 5," said Hameed.

Rasheed Vitla, secretary of MFriends said, "We were worried that his wife and children would suffer and made arrangements to bring them to India. With help from some benevolent people, the family reached Mangaluru this morning.

"When in prison, Shafi's family was provided food by a mosque. With the help of minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs U T Khader, we tried to approach the central government to see how best Shafi could be helped. We also sent messages on Twitter to foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. On her suggestion, we met the Indian Consulate office in Uganda with help of Kannada Sangha. But all efforts were in vain, as it was learnt that the owner of the company also had a good hold there."

G Mohammad Shafi, father of Rasheed Shafi who attended the press meet said, "My concern is to also get my son's passport back which is being withheld by the owner. His work permit will expire in November and his stay will be illegal. MFriends and Haneef Puttur, an Abu Dhabi-based social worker made all arrangements to bring back my daughter-in-law and her children. Now I want to see my son. We are facing the most difficult times now. I request foreign affairs ministry for immediate intervention in the case."

Rasheed's wife Mihim Ibrahim Dahir, children Shafi Ibrahim, Shafi Sultana, Shafi Sapna, MFriends president Mohammad Haneef Golthamajal, Sujah Mohammad, KK Shahul Hameed, Ansar Bellare, Ashik Kukkaje were present at the meet.