Prisoner on death row for 28 long years walks free

DUBAI — On Thursday, 56-yearold Indian expat Simon Joseph Silvestar finally tasted freedom after spending 28 years on death row in Al Awir Central Jail.

Joseph, whose identity for most of the past three decades was inmate number 45598, was released after he repeatedly sent mercy petitions every Christmas to the authorities.

This year he will finally celebrate Christmas with his family in Mangalore, according to those who helped him in the bailout.

Members of a community church in Dubai raised Dh70,000 to pay blood money to the relatives of the Syrian doctor murdered by Joseph, who was at that timea young salesman at a Bur Dubai boutique.

The family of the Syrian doctor accepted the money, and the Indian Consulate in Dubai gave Joseph a ticket and outpass. In his 28 years behind the bars, Joseph claims to have mastered at least 15 languages by interacting with other prisoners.

Joseph, one of long-term inmates of the Al Awir jail, was sentenced to death on December 23, 1990, two days before Christmas.

What led to the murder

Simon Joseph, who used to work for the victim, had a heated argument with the latter over a Dh500 difference in Joseph’s monthly salary and perks. In a fit of rage, Joseph hit the doctor in the head with an ashtray, who later died of brain hemorrhage.

He was sentenced to death by the Dubai Court of First Instance in 1990. He fled the scene and was arrested by the police (from the airport). The court of appeal upheld the verdict and sentenced him to death.

“He took a flight to India on Thursday morning. This was his long cherished dream and all the inmates in Al Awir jail were happy about his release,” said a friend of the prisoner.

An official at the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Establishments confirmed that Joseph was released and that his name was in a list of prison inmates pardoned by the Dubai Ruler, on the occasion of the UAE National Day. He had applied for pardon and recently his petition was reviewed and accepted for pardon, according to the official.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com