Nimroz court sentences 2 kidnappers to death

ZARANJ (Pajhwok): The appellant court in southwestern Nimroz province on Monday sentenced two persons to death and another two co-accused to 16 and 20 years in prison in the kidnapping and killing case of a nine-year-old boy.

Judge Syed Abdul Qayyoum Kamali, head of the appellant court, handed down the capital punishment to Abdul Malik and Shah Mohammad for their direct involvement in the kidnapping and killing of Hameedullah.

Two other individuals, who played the role of communicators between the kidnappers and father of the abducted boy, were sentenced to 16 and 20 years in prison.

The judge said the verdicts were not final and could be challenged.

According to the judge, the four-member group kidnapped the 9-year old from Zaranj, the provincial capital, and demanded 40 million toman and 650,000 afghanis in ransom.

The father of the slain boy said he arranged the ransom amount but the kidnappers killed his sons.

Of the convicts, two were paternal cousin of the victim. The father, Habibullah, said: “I am not satisfied with the ruling because it has no ground for implementation.”

Abdul Malik, who kidnapped and killed Hameedullah and was sentenced to death, said everything was done by his brother.

Unhappy with the kidnapping and killing of the boy, Malik said he was satisfied with the court decision. He added the court ruling on him would set an example for others.

But Shah Mohammad, who was also sentenced to death, said he did not agree with the decision of court and would seek justice.

nh/ma