UAE: FAMILY OF MAN KILLED BY SARAH BALABAGAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT BLOOD MONEY IN RETURN FOR DROPPING THE DEATH SENTENCE

Record ID: 378340

  • Title: UAE: FAMILY OF MAN KILLED BY SARAH BALABAGAN REFUSES TO ACCEPT BLOOD MONEY IN RETURN FOR DROPPING THE DEATH SENTENCE
  • Date: 1st September 1995
  • Summary: AL AIN AND ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 7 AND 8, 1995/ SEPTEMBER 16, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) AL AIN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 8, 1995) 1. SLV FARAJ AL BALOUSHI, SON OF ALMAS MOHAMMED AL-BALOUSHI WHO WAS KILLED BY FILIPINA MAID SARAH BALABAGAN, LEAVING HOUSE 0.06 2. SV AL-BALOUSHI SAYING HE WILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT BLOOD MONEY IN RETURN FOR DROPPING DEATH SENTENCE ON BALABAGAN (ENGLISH) 0.54 AL AIN, (SEPTEMBER 16, 1995) 3. SV FILIPINA MAID, SARAH BALABAGAN, ENTERING COURT 1.10 4. GV COURT ROOM 1.16 5. SV MOHAMED AL AMIN, BALABAGAN'S DEFENCE LAWYER, WALKING IN TO COURT 1.22 6. SV ROY SENERES, PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR TO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, VISITING BALABAGAN IN HOLDING CELL AFTER VERDICT / BALABAGAN IN HOLDING CELL AFTER VERDICT / SENERES TALKING TO SARAH BALABAGAN THROUGH DOOR OF CELL (2 SHOTS) 1.40 ABU DHABI, UAE (OCTOBER 7, 1995) 7. SV NIGHT MOTHER OF FILIPINA MAID SARAH BALABAGAN, BAI BALABAGAN AND SARAH'S 4-YEAR-OLD SISTER, SAMRAH AT ABU DHABI AIRPORT 1.58 8. SV SARAH'S FATHER KARIM / FAMILY (2 SHOTS) 2.15 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 16th September 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ABU DHABI AND AL AIN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
  • City:
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Reuters ID: LVADBMYGJF88BHX20HEJEU82A677
  • Story Text: The son of a United Arab Emirates (UAE) man killed by his Filipina maid said on Sunday (October 8) the family would not accept "blood money" in return for dropping a death sentence passed on the girl, whose court appeal begins on Monday.

    Faraj al-Baloushi, standing outside the family home in Al-Ain where the killing took place last year, said he would refuse offers of blood money.

    "No," he told Reuters when asked if he would accept blood money, or "diya", at UAE President Sheikh Zaid Bin Sultan al-Nahayan'srequest. "I don't think we will accept diya." Filipina maid Sarah Balabagan's appeal will be held in Al Ain, where last month an Islamic court sentenced her to death for stabbing Almas Mohammed al-Baloushi 34 times. It rejected her claim that she acted in self defence when he raped her.

    Sheikh Zaid had ordered a retrial after the same court in June sentenced Balabagan to seven years in jail for manslaughter. It had also awarded her compensation after concluding that she had been raped.

    The retrial verdict provoked outrage in the Philippines.

    Under Islamic law, the family of the victim has the option of accepting blood money at any time during a case.

    On Sunday, Sarah Balabagan exchanged hugs and words of hope with her family in the jail where she is being held.

    Balabagan's parents, four-year-old sister, lawyer and Philippine officials spent over an hour with her in Al Ain jail.

    The UAE Federal Supreme Court must endorse any death sentence and an execution must be approved by Sheikh Zaid.

    Philippine President Fidel Ramos has said he will ask Sheikh Zaid to pardon Balabagan if the death sentence is confirmed.


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