Riyadh: Murder of Jokatte Ismail: Accused Rasheed Jokatte gets Clean Chit
News from P A Hameed Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Riyadh (SP)
Riyadh, Apr 8: Mangalorean Mohammed Rasheed Hussain, who had been arrested in connection with the death of Jokatte Ismail some time back, got justice after some trying times. Even at the time of his arrest, it was apparent that he was innocent. Now his innocence has been proved beyond doubt. The Saudi Arabian authorities, after conducting thorough investigation, have given a clean chit to Rasheed and released him from Deerah jail here on Wednesday April 1.
The Saudi law enforcement authorities had taken Rasheed into custody about four months back, in connection with the murder of Jokatte Ismail Idinabba. Jokatte Ismail, son of the late Idinabba and Beebi couple from Jokatte in Mangalore, was brutally murdered at his room at Bath’ah in Riyadh city center on November 9, 2008. It may be recalled, that Daijiworld had carried the news of his arrest then, along with two other suspects.
A few days after the murder of Ismail, the Saudi Intelligence Corps (CoD) had summoned Rasheed to appear before the authorities concerned, in connection with the investigation in the case of Ismail’s murder. Then, Rasheed was taken into police custody and sent to Deerah jail, where he spent more than four months. Rasheed is the neighbourer of the deceased Ismail at Jokatte in Mangalore and was in good terms with him. After the lengthy process of investigation, the authorities released him, as he was found not involved with the murder.
The Indian Embassy here also played a role in getting him released, in response to a petition filed with the Indian ambassador here in this connection by advocate and Daijiworld correspondednt P A Hameed after he received a plea from Rasheed’s father Haji S Hasanabba. In the plea, Hasanabba had expressed confidence in the innocence and law-abiding nature of his son Rasheed. Several social organizations and persons like his brother Haneef Jokatte, social worker and senior resident, Parvez Ali (EuroMarché), Basheer (NCMS) Mangalore, Haneef Fakhruddin Jokatte, Masood Ahmed Kukkikatte-Udupi and others put in their best efforts to get Rasheed released. In addition, close relatives of the murdered had also actively cooperated in testifying the innocence and friendly nature of Rasheed before the Authorities with the intention to getting him released.
While speaking to Daijiworld, Rasheed expressed his satisfaction about the justice administration system of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the authorities.
When Daijiworld Correspondent asked him as to whether he was harassed or tortured in the cell or jail, he said he was treated humanely without exerting any pressure or torture by the jail authorities and other officials. He said that he had full faith in the justice delivery system of the Kingdom as he was totally sure of his innocence. The only regret he has is that he had to spend over four months in jail before getting a clean chit in the case. He expressed his gratefulness to all the authorities and those who made efforts to get him released.
According to the Shari’ah Law and Criminal Procedure Code in force in the Kingdom, the punishment for the crime of murder is the death sentence if the guilt is proved beyond reasonable doubt, unless the family of victim pardons him/her by accepting Diyah (blood-money). Because of stringent laws, the crime rate is considerably low in Saudi Arabia as compared to other parts of the world.