Mangalore: Carol Fernandes seeks assistance for release of her husband in Kuwait Police custody

Media Release

 

Mangalore, 14 Apr 2014: Here below we present an appeal letter from Carol  (W/o Melwin Fernandes), who seeks assistance from Gulf NRI Forum - Mr. Pascal Pinto and other associations for immediate release of her husband in Kuwait Police custody for carrying neighbours pain killer medicines.

 

“ I Carol (W/o Melwin Fernandes), Karkala, residing along with my two kids. Myhusband Melwin Fernandes was working in oil rigs for a company, in Kuwait. He worksfor three months and off for one month at which he used to constantly visit his family in India i.e. Karkala Mangalore.

 

On 30/01/2014 our new house warming was at Miyar and on 09/02/2014 Melwin Fernandes left for Kuwait. Being a friendly nature person and always was one step ahead to help others in their needs and hard times so he used to carry needy things thru and fro Kuwait to Mangalore India.  On this occasionour previously residing house neighbour Justine Castelino a very close family friend, she gaveus a parcel packed with house hold eatables in addition blood pressure tablets for her husband Richard Castelino who is working as a driver in Kuwait. This was a normal practice as and when my husband  used to travel thru and fro from Kuwait/India/Kuwait and this transaction was in faith and trust and the contents and quantity was not disclosed to us as Melwin Fernandes was travelling the same day the parcel was bought in and given at the time of travel.

 

Melwin Fernandes reached Kuwait on 9/02/2014, when I called his mobile to check the status arrival in Kuwait, received the call stating that he was arrested by Kuwait Police in the airport.  Thereason for the arrest was that tablet which was carrying to give Richard Castelino are banned. By learning this I immediately called Richard Castelino and told him to take doctor prescription to Melwin Fernandes and release him. He just kept on giving some or the other excuses either it was for sponsor’s responsibility and other time sponsor is not in Kuwait and so on. Later his phone was switched off .  Later, I came to know we were cheated by our so called neighbour and he is avoiding his responsibility.

 

I kept on contacting all kind of sources whereby I could get some link so as to extract some information about the whereabouts of my husband. Then Richard once called and informed that he did not have any information regarding those tablets which were lately banned. He assured that he has already appointed a lawyer and Melwin will come out within 3 days.
After that there was no news from any one neither from Melwin nor from RichardI was sure that he had appointed a lawyer and he is working on that. He also kept on informing me that he has aranged some doctors prescriptions in anonymous names and given to lawyer to help Melwin to release. One week passed and 2nd week passed but I did not find any result coming up.
Idid not get any reply from Indian Embassy in spite of sending an email to them. Through some family friend I was introduced to NRE forum President Mr. Pascal Pinto and  Mr. Pandari Shetty well known in many Associations and activememberin Kuwait Media circlesas well asin Mangalore Information Media Network - Kuwait .

 

I shared and updated the same to the above mentioned persons. In return I got the updates that Melwin was in Jail because of banned medicine and they should appoint a lawyer and the same was done. Later on all the said information was passed to the lawyer.  Mr. Pascal Pinto personally visited my house, and met me. He asked a letter stating those medicines were bought to Kuwait by Melwin given by Richards’s wife to hand over the same to Richard Castelino. So I requested Justine Castelino’s for a letter, stating those tablets belongs to Richard Castelino. Richard’s wife bluntlyrefused that the parcel was actually given by her and the same is to be handed over to her husband in Kuwait. NowI was sure that this was a well planned conspiracy to trap my husband.

 

Mr. Pascal Pinto had a meeting with Richard Castelino and requested him to confess those tablets were bought for him, by this commitment Melwin would get a releasefrom custody.  However, both Mr and Mrs Richard Castelino are the culprits and were not ready to cooperate.

 

Later on I thought it was the right time to ask justice from the Police dept in Mangalore then in the police station, on my complaint the police authorities made them declare in writing that those medicine were pain killers and 1000 in quantity. Richards wife gave the statement that she had given the parcel to me and these tablets were bought from Mumbai Bandra chemist shop where by her sisters son Savio Correa gave the declaration for the same both the declaration were then translated from Kannada to English  with authorities authorisation and the same is attached below.

 

 

Declaration by Mrs Justine Castelino ( Wife of Richard Castellino ) and Mr Savio Correa whose mother Violet Correa Sister of Mrs Justine Castelino is an House maid in Kuwait

 

 

Care N Cure Mumbai Chemist Shop receipt medicines given by Mrs Justine Castelino ( Wife of Richard Castellino ) purchased  by Savio Correa

 

These letters were bought to Kuwait by Pascal Pinto who then translated to Arabic with necessary authority’s authorisation before submitting to Indian Embassy and the law Firm.I told Richard that her lawyer cannot release Melwin by providing duplicate prescriptions and not to interfere in this matter as the Indian Embassy and her lawyer would take necessary steps lawfully about the case.

 

Instead of cooperating Richard started sending threatening calls to me, Mr Pascal Pinto and all those who were in some or the other way helping and trying to prove Melwin’s innocence.

 

I was told by reliable sources from Kuwait that Richard is an illegal resident and is a driver and a trader for all illegal business in Kuwait.  Due to this reason his whereabouts or details not in the Ministry of Public Information PACI or Indian Embassy the same was confirmed in Kuwait too and he did not travel out of Kuwait or gone for vacation to India from the last 3 to 4 years.

 

Iknow that my husband Melwin is always  loyal to his work and his company used to award for his great achievements every fortnight, and always help others in their hard times.In the present circumstances in spite of him being innocent he is in jail for the past two and half months.

 

Melwin been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Company

 

I just want to clarify these points that:

“If Richard is without proper documents and staying illegally in Kuwait why authorities not bothered to take a statement from him.

 

Secondly why the voice of all Mangaloreans residing in Kuwait not coming forward to help us in the release of Melwin from police custody those who are  well aware of Richard Castelino’s illegal activities in Kuwait.

 

Third the most important point I plead to all Mangaloreans in Kuwait not to spread falserumours stating that Melwin is a “ Drug Trader ”he is not guilty at all. The only mistake was we trusted our so called good neighbour whose intention was not clean and had all illegal activities going on in Kuwait.

 

Regarding Indian Embassy Kuwait, I had high hopes that they would help for the release of my husband but unfortunately they had not even replied to my email sent by my lawyer from Mangaloreand also from my family relative from Dubai since 18/2/2014 till date.  My kind request to all in Kuwait come forward and help the release of my husband Melwin Fernandes who is the only bread earner for our family.

 

Associations in Kuwait or individuals who wish to help the family can contact by email:  caralfernandes5@gmail.com/ caral2255@yahoo.com