17 Indian bootleggers on death row win reprieve

The men were sentenced to death by the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance in March 2010 for killing the Pakistani

Sharjah,December 31, 2010: Seventeen Indian bootleggers facing death sentence for killing a Pakistani have won a reprieve when the family of the deceased agreed to pardon them if they were compensated.

If the convicts fail to pay compensation, they will be executed.

A total of 17 Indians, 16 from Punjab and one from Haryana, were sentenced to death by the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance in March 2010 for killing the Pakistani and injuring three others in January 2009 following a fight over illegal liquor business. The murder took place in Al Saja'a area of Sharjah.

The victim's family during previous hearing had refused any settlement and wanted the convicts to be executed as ruled by the court.

The Court of Appeal adjourned Wednesday's hearing to Feb 17, 2011 after a representative of the victim's family presented the fresh request.

The court referred the settlement plea to the defence lawyers who said they would discuss the proposal with the families of the defendants and a representative of the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

The next hearing is on February 17.