Telecom fraud: 3 more Mangaluru expats freed from Saudi prison after 13 years

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 8, 2016

Jeddah, May 8: Three of the four hapless Indian expatriates from Mangaluru, who had been languishing in jail in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after being trapped in an illegal call routing (Hundi) case, have finally been released.

prisonAfter paying negotiated fine amount to Saudi Telecom Company, judge Saad Al Garni who is chairing the probe into the case had recently ordered the release of three prisoners.

Saudi officials confirmed that Riyaz Bajpe and Fairoos Ullal have been deported on May 7 from Jeddah International Airport and Nasir Bunder is waiting for his turn at the deportation center.

As per the complaint registered by Saudi Telecom Company in March 2003, as many as eight expatriate workers, all of them from Mangaluru and surrounding areas, had been implicated for allegedly passing and routing of illegal telephone calls and were sentenced to eight years of imprisonment by a Saudi Court. The accused were also asked by the Court to pay a fine of 6.7 million Saudi Riyals to the company.

However, even after serving more than a decade in jail most of them could not walk free from Jeddah jail as they were not able to pay the fine.

According to their family members these unfortunate expats have been made scapegoats for others' wrongdoings while they were unable to communicate in Arabic or English language. Apparently they were quite new to the Kingdom and they were exploited of their ignorance and were trapped as they are unaware of the situation in the gulf country.

A few philanthropic Indian businessmen in Saudi Arabia had paid a huge amount of money as fine through Indian consulate for the cause the release of these prisoners. NRI organisations such as India Fraternity Forum had also had taken up the issue with Indian Consulate in Jeddah several times.

Also Read: 

Emotional homecoming for Mangalorean youth after 9 years in Saudi prison

Comments

kohinoor metal
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

great work IFF MAY ALLAH BLESS UR WORK

anh
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

Good work done by Indian Feternity Forum and all the Donors. May Allah accept their good deeds.
IFF has been doing social works from many years for NRIs in KSA on humanity base.

Sohail
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

great relief for family. Good work by IFF.

Mohammad Azhar dubai
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Good work by IFF team .

Sohrab
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Congratulations to the persons released, the families, Mangaloreans, Kannadigas, all Indians in India and abroad. Good efforts and good work by IFF. Hatts off to their team and all those who have supported in this case. Its easy to comment. Not an easy task when we are out of our homeland. The cases runto generations.

Moosa B
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Dear Brother Bunaz, Appreciate your comment and I know its very easy to sit inside the AC room and comment about the scenario at the end.

You defintely lack knowledge in this matter.

Their actual prison period was 8 years, but they were unable to come out as they were charged with huge fine of SAR 6.7 millions. IFF coordinated very well with Consulate and other officials and Lawyer was appointed by IFF as well. Finally they were successful in reducing the fine amount.

Thats when generous good hearted Mangalorean Business men joined their hands to support IFF to pay the needy amount.

If need be please contact nearest IFF office if you need further information on this.

Ismail
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha Allah great work by iff , without iff effort and doners it couldn't happend. I closely watch this issue , and iff also donated some part of amount in this case and effort also done by iff. So some political party taking this opportunity by wrong way. When they had power they couldn't do any single help for this guys. But now they need name in this. Any how people will know about iff . They don't need any name , Masha Allah by there work and effort people recognized iff by lot of cases handled by iff. We know recently they had work for jubail incident, helped there family members to took body to india. Masha Allah great work by iff , keep it up . May Allah bless u both iff and doners . Ameen ya rub

Mohammed
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha Allah good work by IFF. keep going.

And Bunaz..if you think making follo up with authority to get them released then you should have tried.
Don't get jealous ..try to appreciate people's work or keep quite.

Bunaz
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

In many years Iff and other organizations tried to solve but unfortunately they couldn't do that .
I don't agree without donor it could be .
Then why IFF couldn't do in the early years
They got enough punishment 13 years in jail . Easily IFF got credit
May Allah bless the donors

syed
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Alhamdulillah....good job done by iff and some indian businessmen in jubail.

Shahul
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Alhamdulilla

A big salute to kind heart generous Mangalorean business fraternity. without their help it was impossible to get release.

Mohammed Irfan
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Great job INDIAN FRATERNITY FORUM (IFF)... It was really a long struggle .... Alhamdulillah at the end of the day u have done really a great job ...... May Almighty Allah reward you...

kaleel
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Alhamdlilah...
Masha Allah ..great work IFF had taken up issue and hard work with support of Indian businessmen, dua of all
May Allah give good health those who work behind this issue, keep doing hard work towards to humanity.

IBRAHIM
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha allha great work by india fraternity forum .
with the help of great business donor's ,
may allha bless both of them.

nazeer
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Great work IFF Masha Allah, May Allah Accept the good deed.

asif
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha Allah Great Work 'Indian Fraternity forum (IFF) Allah Accept all u r good deeds..

A. Mangalore
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

The highest credit should go to Mangalorean Businessmen who paid a huge amount of money to STC. Without their contribution it would have never been a release for them. IFF coordination is also appreciable.
The youngsters should learn the lesson from this episode that to earn money they should not go for a haram way to become a quick rich. There are still lots of people who are doing wrong way to earn money in the gulf. It is a warning call for all of them.

S.Asif Thodar
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha Allah....Great work Indian Fraternity Forum (IFF)

Abu Afhaam
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha Allah great job done by India Fraternity Forum, kudos to all the donars who joined hands. May allah accept all these things from you. Expatriates in the kingdom are still facing many issues, request with IFF and all selfless donars to join togather and work for the needy.

Abdul Latheef …
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

This is great Achievement of India Fraternity forum. Keep It up.

abdul salam
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha Allah

Great Work done by IFF.

Sajid valavoor
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Masha ALLAH ...great job done by India fraternity forum with the support of kind hearted business people's, this shows if we unite to serve the community with all kind of support, nothing is impossible. ALLAH may accept this good deed and give it's hajar to one all, those who directly or indirectly supported this ...IFF hats off ... continue your service to the community...!!

Ahmed
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Great work from INDIA FRATERNITY FORUM (IFF).... MASHALLAH

Kaizer
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Well done IFF, it was not an easy case to handle yet Iff has achieved it and released them and made their families happy , truly the rewards for this will be given by ALLAH immensely .
May Allah accept the noble work and keep doing this kind of social work to humanity

Moosa B
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Great Work IFF and Team! Keep it up!!

Moosa B
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Great Work IFF Masha Allah!! May Allah Accept the good deed!!!

Mr
 - 
Sunday, 8 May 2016

Congratulations IFF May Allha accept all ur good deeds....

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Agencies
July 5,2020

Dubai, Jul 5: Three Indians, who were repatriated on a chartered flight from the UAE on Friday, have been held in the state of Rajasthan after officials seized gold worth Dh2.2million from them, the government announced on Saturday.

They are likely to be placed under arrest along with 11 others, who were repatriated from Saudi Arabia, from whom gold worth Dh5.5million was seized, a statement from the government tweeted by Press Information Bureau in Rajasthan said.

The gold bars were hidden in emergency lamps, photos attached to the tweets showed.

The 14 passengers had arrived at the Jaipur International Airport by two chartered flights.

They were intercepted by the Customs team at the airport and 31.9kg of gold valued at Rs156,759,820 (Dh7.7million) concealed in the baggage was recovered from these passengers.

Three passengers arrived from Ras Al Khaimah by Spice Jet Flight SG9055 and 12 gold bars/bricks weighing 9.3kg valued at Rs.45,761,100 (Dh2.2million) were recovered from them, the statement said.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed to Gulf News that the flight was chartered by a private company for repatriating its employees.

It is suspected that the passengers were used as carriers to smuggle gold.

The other 11 accused had arrived from Riyadh and 22.65kg of gold bars, predominantly with Suisse markings, valued at Rs110,998,720 (Dh5.5million) were recovered from them.

“The said recovered gold bars have been seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962. The said passengers are being interrogated and are likely to be placed under arrest in terms of section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962,” the statement added.

Indian media had earlier reported similar cases in which stranded Indians were apparently lured to be carriers for smuggling gold on repatriation flights from various countries.

A spike in gold smuggling attempts using Indians getting repatriated after losing jobs was also reported from the Indian state of Kerala.

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News Network
February 17,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 17: Kambala superstar Shrinivas Gowda, who is drawing comparisons to ace sprinter Usain Bolt, has reportedly refused to take part in athletics trials with the Sports Authority of India.

28-year-old Gowda, who hails from Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada, was celebrated as a potential Olympian after a clip of his race went viral, amid claims that he had done 100m in 9.55 seconds, against Bolt's record of 9.58. He has so far won 32 medals in 11 kambala events this season.

Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju and SAI said Gowda would appear for trials at SAI's Bengaluru centre on Monday. The government "will do everything to identify sporting talents", Rijiju had tweeted.

"I will meet the Chief Minister. I am keen on continuing in kambala," Gowda said. Asked about the clamour for a crossover into athletics, he said, "For the time being I have no plans to appear for SAI trials. I am busy with the Kambala season and will consider meeting them following that and after consulting my well-wishers."

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  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
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  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
June 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 18: The Karnataka police has arrested a German national wanted for kidnapping and causing bodily harm to a person in his home country, an official said on Wednesday. The person was also found to be overstaying on an expired visa, which police said that it appeared that the visa had been tampered with to look more current.

"On receipt of credible information by the CID Interpol Division officers, the Red Corner Notice subject, the German national Alexander Bruno Wehnelt, was traced at Hulimangala village," a police official told media persons.

Hulimangala is on the outskirts of Bengaluru city.

Alexander, 55, escaped from Germany and took shelter in Bengaluru.

The Interpol Division of CBI NCB (Central Bureau of Intelligence, Narcotics Control Bureau) in New Delhi had communicated to the Interpol liaison officer in Karnataka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about Alexander, directing extensive search measures to trace the criminal at large.

The Narcotics Control Bureau of Wiesbaden in Germany was on the hunt for Wehnelt for the crimes he committed in 2015, and have finally found him five years later.

"A special team of officers was constituted by the CID - Interpol division under the supervision of ADGP (Additional Director General of Police) B. Dayananda and the Interpol liaison officer and efforts were made to trace the subject," said the official.

On Monday, the police received credible information leading to his arrest.

"It was learnt that his visa had expired in 2016 and he tried to show a visa which was issued in December 2019 which had expired on Saturday, June 13," said the official.

Prima facie, it appeared that Alexander had tampered with his visa and the police are probing on that front as well.

He was handed over to Hebbagodi Police Station in Bengaluru Urban, for his overstay and a criminal case has been registered against him, under the Foreigners Act.

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