New Delhi – Eight Indians, including a Malayali, have been sentenced to death by a court in Qatar for espionage. All 8 had retired from the Indian Navy and were working at Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a military training company in Doha.
The ‘Court of First Instance’ awarded death sentence to Ragesh Gopakumar, Purnendu Tiwari, Navtej Singh Gill, Birendra Kumar Verma, Sugunakar Pakala, Sanjeev Gupta, Amit Nagpal and Saurabh Vasishth, who are believed to be natives of Thiruvananthapuram. They were arrested on August 30 last year by the State Security Bureau, an intelligence agency in Qatar. The Union Ministry of External Affairs had made a lot of efforts at the diplomatic level for the release. Details of the verdict have not been released. According to Qatar’s judicial system, the Court of First Instance hears criminal and civil cases. The judgment can be appealed to the Court of Appeal.
The charge against 8 people and the chief executive officer of the company, Khamis Al Najmi, is that they leaked information to Israel about the submarine being built by the Italian company Finsantieri for the Qatar Navy. The allegation came out a few months after the arrest.
Najmi, an Omani citizen, was later released on bail. Others applied for bail several times but no positive action was taken. However, family members and Indian embassy officials were allowed to visit them in jail and talk on the phone once a week. Al Dahra Company, which employed around 100 people including Malayalis, ceased operations on May 31 this year. Purnendu Tiwari, who was the managing director of the company, was given Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his services in improving India-Qatar relations.
He was released on bail. Others applied for bail several times but no positive action was taken. However, family members and Indian embassy officials were allowed to visit them in jail and talk on the phone once a week. Al Dahra Company, which employed around 100 people including Malayalis, ceased operations on May 31 this year. Purnendu Tiwari, who was the managing director of the company, was given Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his services in improving India-Qatar relations.
shocking verdict; Discussion will continue: Center
The Union Ministry of External Affairs stated that the verdict is shocking and the legal assistance process will continue. The ministry also indicated that it will discuss the verdict with the Qatari government.
English Summary:
Qatar court’s verdict: Death sentence to 8 Indians including a Malayali
2023-10-26 21:48:12
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