Sources said the consulate would seek legal advice once a copy of the judgment was available. So far, the written order has not been issued.
An officer from the Indian consulate in Dubai met on Tuesday the 17 Indian nationals sentenced to death by the Sharjah Sharia court for killing a Pakistani national.
Sources said the consulate would seek legal advice once a copy of the judgment was available. So far, the written order has not been issued. But the consulate is all set to hire the best legal advice possible to help the 17 prisoners. The prisoners, said to be in the age group of 22-30 years, wished that their identities be kept secret.
The details from the meeting are not yet known, but the government is pleased that the authorities immediately granted them consular access. The consulate asked for access on Monday immediately after news of the sentencing became public. Sources in the government have confirmed that the Indian official who met the convicts has “found them in good health”.
According to the UAE penal code, a death sentence goes to appeal automatically. If the verdict is upheld by the Sharjah appeal court, the case will be referred to the federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi, where three judges will hear the case.
If the judges uphold the sentence, they will submit an execution order to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the president of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi. He signs the final order, after which the 17 Indians would be before the firing squad.
The murder of the Pakistani national took place in 2009. The 17 Indians are said to have confessed to the killing. The forensic report of the murdered man showed deep gashes on his leg and head. He died from massive bleeding triggered by heart and lungs injuries. The fact that the accused were allegedly fighting a turf war for illicit liquor has added to the severity of the punishment. Blood tests of the 17 Indians also showed alcohol in their system. Alcohol is banned in the UAE.
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