Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)
Mangaluru, Sep 16: One-and-a-half-years after Melwin Fernandes from Karkala landed in jail in Kuwait for unintentionally carrying a banned drug, the police have reportedly arrested his neighbour Richard Castelino, whom the parcel containing the banned medicines was meant for, and who had later gone absconding without taking any responsibility for Melwin's plight.
Reliable sources told daijiworld that Richard Castelino has been arrested following an investigation of which Dr Venkatesh Prasanna, DySP in Mangaluru IGP office and former CCB inspector, was a part.
Richard Castelino
It may be recalled that in February 2014, Melwin Fernandes, who was employed in Kuwait, had tried to help Richard Castelino, who was his neighbour in Karkala and stayed in Kuwait, by agreeing to carry a parcel for him from Richard's wife Justine. Unknown to Melwin, the parcel contained a pain killer that was banned in Kuwait, and Melwin was arrested by the Kuwaiti authorities on landing there, and spent eight months in jail until he was finally released in October 2014 after untiring efforts of his wife Carol, friends and organizations based in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, both Richard and his wife Justine refused to take responsibility for the incident and Richard even went absconding after the case garnered attention and Carol filed two cases in Karkala police station.
Details of Richard's reported arrest are yet to be revealed, however, sources said that his wife Justine had been receiving remittance in her bank account from another account in the name of 'Roshan Crasta' through Dollarco Exchange. On investigation, it was discovered that the account was Richard's, and that he also held a passport in the name of 'Roshan Crasta', it is gathered. He was then tracked down.
Speaking to daijiworld, Carol Fernandes said, "I have filled two FIRs in the Karkala police station. We will try our best to clear my husband's name.
"Richard Castelino travelled abroad by using a fake passport. I have also learnt that Richard even has illegal business in Kuwait. My husband had never taken any medicines to Kuwait for Richard before, but only things like laptop and food items given by Justine. Richard was in Kuwait pretending to help us initially and then went absconding," Carol said.
She also said that her husband is still in Kuwait and is unable to find a job after he lost the earlier one due to his arrest. "Richard Castelino has snatched away our means of income too," she said.
Expressing gratitude to all those who helped her and her husband in their difficult times, Carol said, "We are thankful to social activist Elias Sanctis and his wife Tressy and also Devdas Kumar Pandeshwar and everyone who stoody by us and helped in my husband's release."