JEDDAH, 26 November 2004 — The response to a family’s clemency plea for a drug trafficker came swiftly from Crown Prince Abdullah, Okaz reported.
Considering the situation of the prisoner’s family, the crown prince ordered the sentence commuted to 15 years instead of the death penalty. Family members shed tears of joy on hearing of the crown prince’s decision.
The prisoner worked as a flight attendant and was involved in a drug smuggling scheme. The family was devastated when the execution was ordered and sought mercy from the crown prince in a letter explaining their situation.
The letter noted it was the prisoner’s first offense and his execution would create great hardship for his wife and family.
The prisoner, Maher, was convicted of smuggling 2 kilos of hashish.
“I thank the crown prince for saving my neck,” Maher said. “When my wife and mother sent the letter to the crown prince I was hoping there would be light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been living in fear ever since I was sentenced to death.”
His children may be grown by the time he’s released, but they will still have a father.
“I am a family man with three boys and four girls,” he said. I can’t describe the feeling I had when the judge announced the sentence. Now that I am not facing death anymore, I am counting on the years to pass by, so I can return to my family.”
For the convict’s wife, the merciful decision was a source of hope. “I could not stop from crying when I heard that the sentenced was changed from death to 15 years in jail,” said Um Abdul Aziz. “Now there’s hope for my children and me.”
As the convict pays his debt to society, he will realize that his wife and children also will be paying for his crime.
“Our financial situation was very bad when he went to jail because our support stopped,” Um Abdul Aziz said. “Life is very hard without a breadwinner. The new decision brings a little hope to my family, but we will still need financial support.”
