It’s almost two months now Melvin Fernandez is in Kuwait jail for being helpful to others! Miles apart, in India, his wife Carol with his two kids is approaching all doors for the release of her husband,and cursing their fate.
On February 9th Melvin left to Kuwait from his home town in Karkala near Mangalore after a short vacation. He must have never thought that the small favor of carrying his neighbor’s packet of pickle and masala powder will land him in this soup. The parcel contains some medicines, which are banned in Kuwait. At the Kuwait airport, the authorities seized the banned medicines and arrested him. It’s almost two months now Carol is searching for a way to save her husband.
According to a letter sent to IndiansinKuwait.com, Carol, Melvins wife said that on February 9th, when Melvin was leaving to Kuwait from his home town, their house neighbour and close family friend Justine Castelino gave him a parcel packed with house hold eatables and some blood pressure tablets for her husband Richard Castelino who is working as a driver in Kuwait. Upon reaching Kuwait, officials seized the tablets at the airport and put Melvin in jail. He was not aware of the tablets in the parcel, which was given to him by his friend.
"I tried to contact the Indian Embassy in Kuwait through email, but did not receive any response", she said in her letter to IndiansinKuwait.com. She also contacted few other Kuwait based Indians including Gulf NRI forum President Mr. Pascal Pinto and Mr. Pandari Shetty regarding the issue. Later Mr. Pascal Pinto personally visited her and assured her full support
According to Carol, Richard Castelino, for whom Melvin bought these tablets, is residing in Kuwait illegally without proper documents and is now not responding to her calls for help. (However we couldn't verify his residency status.)
Pascal Pinto with the active support of Mr Pandari Shetty and few other Mangaloreans assigned a lawyer to help Melvin. "I had visited him at jail today. I also discussed the issue with his lawyer. The thing is that the case is still not charge sheeted. Once it comes to the court then only the lawyer can fight the case", Mr Pascal Pinto told IIK.
With the help of Mangalore police, Carol got a declaration by the friend who gave her the parcel and also the purchase receipt for the tablet from the pharmacy in India. "I had translated the confession of the lady who gave him the parcel and the official receipts of the shop from where he purchased this tablet into Arabic and submitted it to the jail and the lawyer. Now the officers have understood the situation and are looking into the case positively. Once it comes to the court, with the help of lawyer, we will be able to prove his innocence", Mr Pinto said.
"Unfortunately the officials at the Indian Embassy are not providing any support to our efforts", Mr Pinto added. "We are doing this selfless service for saving an innocent Indian, who is falsely accused and put in jail. We are not asking embassy to do something, but only to support us in our effort. If they are not ready to support in such cases, how can we get justice?" Mr Pinto asked.
According to Melvin’s wife's letter to IIK, She hasn’t got any reply from the Embassy for her repeated request of support in this case.
"Hopefully the case will come into court within 15 days and the lawyer will be able to prove Melvin's innocence at the court" Mr Pinto said.
The incident will be an eye opener for anyone who brings parcel from others to foreign countries, especially in Middle East where dealing in drugs may get upto death punishment. "I met lot of innocent Indians who are trapped in such cases without their knowledge at the jail' Mr pinto told IIK. In many cases, it will be the innocent who carries such drugs without the knowledge of the parcel and will get caught by the authorities while the kingpins are left scot-free.