Naushad may be freed soon

A 34-year-old Indian, who escaped an eye-to-eye punishment in Saudi Arabia after the victim of his attack pardoned him, is expected to be out of prison early next week.

The paperwork relating to the release of Puthen Veetil Abdul Latheef Naushad, a Keralite, is in the final stages, according to informed sources.

The court in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia had released the papers to the governorate, which had forwarded them to the prosecution, the sources were quoted as saying by Arab News.

The release order will be sent to the Delta Petroleum Company where Naushad was working, the report added.

Saudi national Naif Al-Otaibi, who lost an eye following a scuffle with Naushad, pardoned the Indian on January 22. Naushad said he had acted in self-defence.

A court had earlier ruled that Noushad would have to pay for the offense with his eye. He has already spent three years in jail over the scuffle that began with an argument over a bill at the gas station he worked for. PTI CORR