KUWAIT: BLOOD MONEY SAVES 2 INDIANS FROM GALLOWS

June 16, 2013: just two days before they were to go under the executioner’s blade in Kuwait City’s central prison, two Indians – Suresh Shanmugasundram and Chellapan Kalidas – got a reprieve, after paying blood money to relatives of their alleged murder victim, a Sri Lankan citizen.
The duo, both of them residents of Chennai, had been arrested along with a Sri Lankan woman, Premila Rekki, for the murder of another Sri Lankan woman, S Masudha.
After their arrest in July 2008, it took the Kuwaiti judiciary five years to convict the three accused for the murder and awarded them capital punishment.
Following the announcement of death penalty, early in June, the duo were notified that they would be executed on 18 June. The efforts made by the relatives and lawyers of the accused, along with the Indian diplomats in touch with the Kuwaiti authorities, further intensified.
Finally, the Kuwaiti authorities announced that the execution of the three accused had been suspended after the relatives of the Sri Lankan victim agreed to accept payment of blood money. According to sources, Chellapan Kalidas paid 600,000 Sri Lankan rupees (about 4,633 USD). However, the amount paid by Suresh is not known. (Sources: newindianexpress.com, 26/06/2013)