17 Indians jailed over bootlegging, murder charges in UAE may be deported soon

Dubai, Feb 9 (ANI): A group of 17 Indian men in the UAE, who were sentenced to six months in jail over bootlegging and murder charges are likely to be deported soon, their lawyer has said.

The men faced charges of bootlegging in January this year.

The death sentence imposed on them for the murder of a Pakistani man, Misri Khan, was commuted in September last year, after the victim's family was paid 3.4 million Dirham in blood money.

Defence Lawyer Bindu Chettur said that the 17 men have already served their six-month terms.

"They have been in jail for more than two years and six months for bootlegging and murder. The judgement was pronounced in the judge's chamber today and we are waiting for the details of the verdict," Gulf News quoted Chettur, as saying.

The men have been in jail since 2009 for the murder of Khan and for assaulting three others during a bootlegging fight in the Emirate of Sharjah.

According to the report, the civil case against the 17 Indians, in which two men have sought compensation for injuries sustained in the bootlegging brawl, is scheduled for February 15.

The court is expected to examine the degree of disability of the injured and decide the future course of action.

Meanwhile, out of the 61 Indians accused in cases of bootlegging-murder in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, all except three have escaped the death penalty or life imprisonment, with 25 having returned home in the last few months and the remainder serving commuted terms. (ANI)