Dubai, April 6: The long wait for freedom is continuing for the Indian visitor, who has been stuck in a rare case of mistaken identity for nearly three months in the UAE, even after the Indian mission here came to his rescue.
Mathew Joseph, 47, a fisherman who was held by the UAE officials on January 2 for his close similarities with a wanted man, may have to wait for one more week to get the clearance from the local authorities, Khaleej Times has learnt.
His legal consultant, advocate Hashik T K, said on Thursday that the Dubai Police was awaiting a verification report to establish the differences in the photographs of Joseph and the man with whom he had unusual resemblances.
“The delay is due to a technical reason. We were told today that the police will get the expert opinion on the differences in the photos of both the Mathew Josephs only by next Wednesday or Thursday. So, he has to wait till then,” Hashik told Khaleej Times.
Joseph was arrested because of the close similarities he had in his full name, parents’ names, dates of birth, signatures and even in looks with that of his fellow citizen who had fled the UAE in 2010 without paying Dh14, 000 in credit card dues.
Hashik said the police had already established that the signatures of both the Josephs were different. “Though both of them sign their names in English, there are certain differences in the way they write the letters and there is an additional letter ‘j’ in the sign of the other man…”
After Khaleej Times first published a report on Joseph’s struggle to establish his identity on Monday, the Indian Consulate in Dubai issued a letter certifying that Joseph’s passport issued by the passport office in Trivandrum had been examined and verified from its records along with photograph, and found to be genuine. The Consulate also stated that it had issued another passport to another Mathew Joseph in 2004 and gave the details of that passport, as well.
“As per our records, the addresses, as well as other details like names of parents (and) dates of birth are different in respect of both passport holders,” the mission added in the letter issued on Wednesday.
Joseph’s brother-in-law George Cyril said the former was upset that he could not join his family for Easter celebrations even after securing a favourable letter from the mission. “We expected that he can be sent home at least by Sunday to celebrate Easter with my sister and children who have been longing to see him. He is upset that it is not happening.”
Cyril said Joseph had lost 10kgs after his arrival and he realised it when the latter was taken to a clinic a few days ago after he complained of chest pain. Ever since he was released on bail three days after his arrest, Cyril said, Joseph has become a very quiet man and spends at least an hour in church every day.
Comments
Add new comment