Saudi Arabia: Nepalese on death row pardoned

RIYADH: A Nepalese migrant worker on death row in the Eastern Province for killing a Pakistani national in Jubail five years ago has been pardoned by his victim’s family.

Nepalese Ambassador Udaya Raj Pandey on Monday praised the decision to forgive 31-year-old Umesh Yadav, who was convicted of killing co-worker Muhammed Wazir in a scuffle.

“Thanks to the Saudi officials and to officials of the Pakistani Embassy who extended all support to us to work out an amicable settlement,” he said.

“A reasonable amount of blood money will be paid to the victim's family.”

Yadav, who comes from a village in Nepal’s Dhanusha district, has his wife and two sons as well as his aging parents back home. He arrived in Jubail in 2006.

About 500,000 Nepalese work in the Kingdom.

Source: ArabNews, January 3, 2011

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