Basha, who arrived in Saudi Arabia to work as a lorry driver for a brick-manufacturing unit in Wadi Al-Hajbal, near Khamis Mushait in 2004, wasted no time after his release in traveling to Makkah to perform Umrah and pray for King Abdullah. He made that trip yesterday.
On Feb. 11, 2006, the tractor-trailer Basha was driving collided with an oncoming minivan, killing eight Saudi women teachers and their Egyptian driver. Basha was found guilty of causing the accident and was ordered to pay SR 63,500 as diya (blood money) to the families of the victims. With a salary of only SR 1,200 a month, Basha was unable to come up with the sum and was sent to jail where he has spent the past seven years.
Indian community worker, Abha Ashraf Kuttichel, confirmed yesterday that Basha was released following payment of the diya. “I met with Saleem in prison and came to learn about what happened to him,” Kuttichel said.
According to Basha, one afternoon, a prison official approached him and said that King Abdullah had paid the diya on his behalf.
“I had no hope that I would ever be released from prison, but generous King Abdullah made his humanitarian gesture, so I am able to walk free,” Basha said.
Basha said he had met the conditions for a pardon that authorities had laid out for drivers who caused accidents. Drivers can be eligible for a pardon as long as they meet three criteria: They do not flee the scene; they tell the truth; and there is no alcohol or other intoxicants involved. The conduct and character of drivers while in prison is also taken into account, according to Basha.
Basha also praised the Shariah judicial system and said judges do not examine jurisprudence only but also consider the circumstances. He said that the police, prosecution and judges were fair and even sympathetic to poor expatriates. He thanked the prison authorities and said they had helped him and other prisoners. Prison officials often brought him and other Asian inmates ingredients for their native dishes.
“I can't forget the kindness of the prison employees who were sympathetic and assisted me in all possible ways,” Basha said.
Basha is ready to return to India, but there are the usual bureaucratic hoops to jump through.
His Iqama expired six years ago and his passport expired three years ago. He managed to travel to Jeddah where he approached the Indian Consulate to renew his passport.
Consulate officials yesterday confirmed that Basha had been released from prison and had applied for a new passport. The officials agreed to renew his passport for one year.
After renewing his passport, Basha learned that his original sponsor is now classified in the red category in the Nitaqat system of Saudization. The company cannot renew its employees' Iqamas. Basha said he would turn to the governor of Abha for help.
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