“I lost my trust in everyone,” says distressed Melvin after 8 months in Jail

IIK Staff Reporter

Sunday, October 26, 2014

"Almost eight months, I was in Kuwait jail for simply trusting my neighbour. This made me not to trust anyone in this world", distressed Melwin Fernandez spoke to IndiansinKuwait.com in an exclusive chat. Melwin Fernandez who has been languishing in Kuwait Jail for the last 8 months on conviction of carrying banned medicines opens up his experience for the readers to understand the reality behind his case.

IIK: Your case came in almost all news papers earlier. Still some public are in two minds about what had happened actually. Can you explain how you got into this case?

Melwin: I am living in Kuwait for the past 5 years. Due to the nature of my job, I used to go on vacation frequently. Last February, when I was coming back from my vacation, my neighbour gave me a packet saying that there are some tablets for her husband Mr Richard Castelino who was working as a driver in Kuwait.

I never doubted them as they are my neighbours. And Since I was coming back after finishing the house warming ceremony of my new house, I was bit tied up with packing and shifting to new house. So I just kept that parcel as it is without a second thought in my suitcase.

When I reached Kuwait airport, at the security check the police officer asked me is there any medicine in the baggage. Without any doubt I said yes and I showed him the parcel. Officer took me inside and made me to wait there. There I also spoke to Mr Richard Castelino, to whom I brought this medicine and he said he is on the way to the airport. First they made me to sign a paper written something in Arabic. Secondly they told me to sign in a blank paper. When I asked why I should sign a blank paper, the officer got annoyed and they took me to Salmiya CID office. This time I really got afraid that something wrong had happened as I was not aware of the fact that what kind of medicine it was till that time. While going to Salmiya I again called Richard Castelino and he said that nothing to worry, he is contacting his sponsor and will come with his sponsor. When we reached Salmiya CID office, they took my mobile phone, passport etc and put me in jail.

IIK: Did they allow you to contact your family?

Melwin: Actually the very next day I got a bail. Officer told me to call anyone and deposit 200 KD to go on bail. They told me to call anyone from a land line. Unfortunately in that situation I couldn't remember any of my friend’s phone number. Since they are not giving my mobile phone I tried many of my friend’s phone number but all was wrong numbers. Here is the importance of remembering some of our immediate contact’s phone number by heart. Later I made an international call to my wife in India and conveyed the message. She called many Mangalorian in Kuwait whom she knows and requested to come to the CID office with 200 KD. But none of them came. None of them came to take me out on bail. So that chapter got closed there.

IIK: So how did you managed to get in touch with the lawyer?

Melwin: Next day in the court one lawyer attended the case. I came to know that Richard Castelino arranged that lawyer. But I never understood what the lawyer was speaking in the court as it all was in Arabic. In the next 2 to 3 appearances in court, Richard's lawyer came and was speaking to the court. Later I understood that he was making the case more complicated and instead of helping me out, Richard was using his lawyer to make him clean and put all blame on me alone. At this time, I again managed to call my wife in India and explained her the situation. She called one of our relative in Dubai and explained the situation. The relative in Dubai was a friend of Pandary Shetty, who is a prominent Mangalorean in Kuwait and informed him about this case. Pandary Shetty introduced another prominent Mangalorean Pascal Pinto to my wife. Later on Pinto came to my help and he arranged a lawyer for me. Initially that lawyer also couldn't help much in the case. On the 6th court appearance, Pascal Pinto with the help of Indian embassy appointed a defence lawyer Mohammed B Khuraibat from Legal Group. That was the first time I met Pinto.

IIK: Did you have any assistance from Indian Embassy?

Melwin: Initially nothing. In fact I did not know what was happening outside. Later I came to know that Pinto put pressure on Embassy through some Parliament members from Karnataka, Karnataka NRI Forum, Gulf NRI Forum etc and later one day Ambassador himself came to jail along with Pinto and met me. He spent good time with me and also he spent some time with other Indian inmates in the Jail.

IIK: After 8 months, you got the bail. Did you paid any money for a quick release?

Melwin: Not at all. Only I deposited 500 KD for the bail which is part of the official procedure. Rest all my cases my lawyer only is handling and for that I am paying only the lawyer fee. Lately I came to know that there are many rumours and stories going on specially among the Mangalorean community about I am using external influence to solve this etc, those are all wrong. I request the public to please restrain from spreading such rumours.

IIK: How was the treatment in Jail?

Melwin: Thanks to Kuwait government, the behaviour and treatment I received from the jail authorities were really decent. Jail authorities’ looked after me very well. The rooms were neat and clean. There was no room for complaint against the Kuwaiti officials.

IIK: How did you manage to get this bail now?

Melwin: I strongly believe in justice. I am sure that Kuwait government will do justice to me. At this time I want to thank almighty god and all those who prayed for me. Mr Pinto also worked hard with the lawyer. The support my wife gave me during this entire period was enormous. She really worked hard.

IIK: Do you have any contact with Richard now?

Melwin: Instead of helping me, he messed up this case with his lawyer. Now from reliable source I came to know that he is in India. Earlier with the help of Indian embassy we found out that he came to Kuwait on fake documents and he doesn't have a valid civil id here. Now the same guy is back in India using fake documents. If this is the case, where is the security in our country? This shows that anyone can leave India using fake document and anyone can enter India with fake documents!

IIK: What is your message to the Indian public?

Melvin: Don’t trust anyone. Now I lost the trust on everyone because I got into this issue only because I trusted my neighbour. I am telling all your readers that don’t carry anything with you even if it’s from your close friend. Be aware about the law of the land where you are living and live abiding the law.

we wish Melwin all the best and hope Melwin and other innocents who are in the jail will come out proving their innocents. We request our readers to be fully aware of the content of the items they are bringing to Kuwait to avoid any such incidence

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