Fake visa lands man in Saudi jail

Ashraf was unaware that his employment papers were fake

But luck had something else in store. To his horror, he was told by the airport authorities that the visa on which he had entered Saudi Arabia was fake and he can’t travel.

He was left with two options - either live permanently in Saudi Arabia by hiding from the local police or surrender to them. He surrendered before the police on December 5 and has been behind bars in a Saudi jail since then.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Abdul Hameed, Ashraf’s eldest brother, who ekes out a living by selling jute bags here, recalled how his brother struggled to get a visa with the help of his friend by paying Rs 1.5 lakh about five years ago.

After working for about two years in Saudi, Ashraf arrived in Mangalore in 2008 on a two-month vacation and returned after his marriage the same year.

Quoting Ashraf, Hameed said that till date Ashraf has been produced before the court four times and he is not aware what the judge has said or ordered as he does not know Arabic. The police/court has reportedly told Ashraf that he would be released when the person who issued fake visa is arrested.

Apparently, the Saudi police are aware of Ashraf’s innocence, but they won’t release him unless they trace the culprit, adds Hameed.

Ashraf’s wife Aysha, who has studied up to class VII is hopeful that Ashraf would return home as he is not culpable. Ashraf’s mother, Saramma (65), who lost her husband, M Ismail, 25 years ago has spoken little since her son’s arrest.

The family has written a letter to Union Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed through IUML (on March 19) to which the Ministry has replied saying that it has received the letter and the matter has been taken up with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah for necessary action. But nothing much has been done so far.

One on the run

Along with Ashraf, one of his relatives, too got a visa by paying Rs 1.5 lakh. He realised that his visa too is fake when Ashraf was arrested by the police.

“So far he has not been arrested as he made no attempt to leave Saudi Arabia,” said Hameed and added that if he comes to airport, he too would be arrested. He needs immediate help, before he is caught, he said.

The one that got away

Interestingly, another youth whose name is also Ashraf and also a resident of Ullal and also arrested on charges of fake visa, managed to reach Mangalore recently.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he narrated his stay in Saudi jail and later the harassment by the police in Delhi airport.

Though he had gone on a valid visa to work in a catering unit, his employers did not pay him for four months, after which he abandoned his job and took up a menial job.
“Though I was promised 7,500 Riyals a month, the employers paid me only 1,500 Riyals for two months and did not pay for the next four months, forcing me to take up a menial job,” he said and added that he was arrested in airport when he was coming to India.
Luckily for him, he was released soon after while his passport was impounded. More surprisingly, he was allowed to purchase any goods he wanted before his departure to India. He along with 19 others (including 15 from Assam, three from Calicut and one from Shimoga) were released and flown to Delhi.

However, on their arrival at Delhi airport, police kept them in a room from 2.30 pm to 9 pm without food and water. They were finally allowed to go out, but the police allegedly retained a few people’s luggage.

Ashraf said many persons from India, Pakistan, Bangaldesh and Philippines among other nations were languishing in Saudi jails on charges of entering the country on fake visas.