Lankan man stuck in Dubai prison will go home soon : Consul General
A Sri Lankan man stuck in a Dubai jail because of a lack of travel
documents, even though his sentence has expired, will soon be going
home, his consulate said.
“The matter has been referred to us and we are trying to issue travel
documents for the man so that he can be sent back,” said the Sri Lankan
consul general, Abdul Raheem. “He will leave the country as soon as
possible.”
The man, identified as Sampath, was in jail for financial offences.
His five-year sentence expired last month and he was due to be
deported, but the lack of papers stopped him leaving the country.
Meanwhile, Dubai Police have said they are also helping a number of
other people in the same circumstances to return home. Officials are
contacting consulates and charitable organisations to arrange plane
tickets and passports.
“Some have lost their passports and don't even have a photo-copy,”
said Capt Faisal Al Shehi from the humanitarian care division of the
Dubai Central Prison in Al Awir.
“We tried to support such people. They do not have money or relatives
or friends who can help them. Most of them are illegal workers whose
visa is expired or who ran away from their sponsors.”
More than 140 prisoners were helped with air tickets home between
January and April this year, said Capt Al Shehi. “People can contact us
if they want to help prisoners to return home,” he said. Courtesy: The
National |