Indian helps in freeing prisoners by paying off their debts
Dubai, July 1: Moved by their plight, an Indian businessman in the UAE has helped nearly 3,700 prisoners from several nations who had served their sentences but remained in jails in the country for lack of money, by paying off their debts and buying them air tickets for home.
Firoz G Merchant, owner of a jewellery company, has already secured the release of about 3,700 prisoners since 2011, including 500 in 2013 spending an estimated Rs 6 crore and plans to pay off the debts of another 1,000 inmates later this year.
"I have seen the plight of these people who are in jail even after serving their term only because they don't have the money to go home. Jails here have excellent facilities. They are centrally air conditioned. Prisoners get good food, even education. But at the end of the day, it is still a jail and these people must be reunited with their families," Merchant told reporters.
Firoz
G
Merchant,
owner
of
a
jewellery
company,
has
already
secured
the
release
of
about
3,700
prisoners
since
2011.
Merchant
moved
from
Mumbai
to
the
UAE
in
1989
to
set
up
a
jewellery
business.
He
has
secured
the
release
of
500
people
this
year
alone.
The
repatriated
prisoners
are
from
various
nations
including
India,
Bangladesh,
Sri
Lanka,
Pakistan,
Malaysia,
the
Philippines,
Indonesia,
Ethiopia
and
Morocco.
Merchant maintains he helps people in jail for bounced cheques for housing rent, car loans, credit cards or unpaid education loans, but does not bail out those on murder, rape or drug charges.
He was inspired to start the aid programme when scores of construction workers lost their jobs during the economic downturn. "These are not criminals I am trying to help and everybody should obey the law. However, these people were caught in unfortunate circumstances and need help. I am just doing what I can," Merchant said.
PTI