Mangaluru, September 16: It is reportedly learnt that one and a half years after Melwin Fernandes from Karkala was imprisoned in Kuwait for unknowingly carrying a banned drug,the police arrested his neighbour Richard Castelino, for whom the parcel containing banned medicines were meant to be handed over. Richard Castelino had also refrained from taking the responsibility for putting Melwin into trouble, it is said.
Richard Castelino has been arrested after an investigation by Dr Venkatesh Prasanna, DySP in Mangaluru IGP, said the sources.
Case details: In February 2014, Melwin Fernandes, who was employed in Kuwait, had tried to help Richard Castelino, who was his neighbour in Karkala and stayed in Kuwait, by agreeing to carry a parcel for him from Richard’s wife Justine. Melwin did not know that the parcel contained a pain killer that was banned in Kuwait. On landing at Kuwait, Melwin was arrested by the Kuwaiti authorities and spent eight months in jail. Finally he was released in October 2014 after constant efforts of his wife Carol, friends and organizations based in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, both Richard and his wife Justine denied to take responsibility for the incident. Later Richard even went absconding after the case gained serious attention and Carol filed two cases in Karkala police station.
It is learnt from the sources that Richard Castelino’s wife Justine had been receiving remittance in her bank account from another account in the name of ‘Roshan Crasta’ via Dollarco Exchange. Investigations found that the account was of Richard, and even that he also possessed a passport in the name of ‘Roshan Crasta’, it is said. Later he was traced.
Speaking to the media, Carol Fernandes said, two FIRs were field in Karkala police station and all the documents will be submitted to the high court of Kuwait and try the best to prove Melwin Fernandes as innocent.
Carol also said, Melwin Fernandes had never taken any medicines to Kuwait for Richard earlier, but only things such as laptop and food items given by Justine. Initially Richard pretended to help us in Kuwait and later went absconding. She also said that her husband still stays in Kuwait and is unable to find a job there after he lost the earlier one due to his arrest, she said.
She has also expressed gratitude to all those who helped her and her husband in their difficult times.
