JEDDAH, 13 September 2005 — Najo Forging Factory/Metal Industries Plant has been sold, but its former owner, Khaled Al-Abbass Al-Telmesani, is still refusing to provide Rizwan Abdul Nabi with his financial dues, airline ticket and the final exit visa despite a long-standing court order requiring him to do so.
Abdul Nabi’s case went to Prince Jiluwi ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Musaed, deputy governor of the Eastern Province, two weeks ago, and a final resolution is expected this week.
While Al-Telmesani was on vacation in Europe during the past month, Abdul Nabi has had to continue to depend on the charity of his friends in the Indian community in order to survive. He remains in the Kingdom despite having been offered SR5,000, an exit-only visa and airline ticket in early August by Al-Telmesani — on condition that he sign a document admitting that he was attempting to blackmail and defraud his sponsor.
“Al-Telmesani told me he would send me home and pay me SR5,000 if I signed a paper saying that you” — this journalist — “and I were trying to blackmail him into giving me money, and that you published twisted facts and misled me. But, of course, I didn’t sign it and that is why I am still here. Al-Telmesani said if I signed the paper, he would let me go, but I won’t sign because it is not true,” Abdul Nabi told Arab News.
“The easiest solution for me would be to sign the paper that he wants me to sign, but I cannot put my name to something I know is false — and that is why I am still here. If I sign, I know he will try to put me in jail on false charges instead of flying me home. That is why I went to the deputy governor for help,” Abdul Nabi explained.
According to Sultan Ahmed, a current employee of Najo Forging Factory/Metal Industries Plant, conditions there have improved. Ten out of the 16 employees who remained despite not having been paid their salaries for 17 months have now all been paid and repatriated. The other six are attempting to transfer their sponsorship to other companies.
“Al-Telmesani sold the factory two months ago and is preparing to hand it over officially to its new owner. In the meantime, everyone except Rizwan has been paid their salaries,” Ahmed said. According to a source within Al-Telmesani’s administration, the factory had indeed been sold — to Abdullah Fouad, Al-Telemasani’s father-in-law and a well-known businessman in the Eastern Province.
“The factory will continue its operations under the same name since it was named after Najat Abdullah Fouad, the new owner’s daughter who is also the wife of Khaled Al-Abbass Al-Telmesani, the former owner,” the source said.
