“I have not seen my daughter for the last nine years, I still can’t believe that I can go back home,” said Singapore national Zainab Yousuf, 47. After several months of a rather trying time in Mumbai, the state government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that it would issue exit permits to Yousuf and her Japanese husband Tetsyo Hiryama, 62, as well as Irish national Leen Martin who were denied the same despite their acquittal by the court in separate narcotics cases.
Even though appeals have been filed against their acquittal in the Supreme Court, the state government, said that it had no objection in issuing the exit permits. Earlier, Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice AR Joshi had asked the state government to pay an interim compensation of Rs5,000 each to the couple and Martin for its prolonged indecision regarding their exit permits. The court had also said that if the state intended to keep the foreigners in the country for longer it should provide them with accommodation.
Yousuf and Hiryama almost broke into tears after hearing that they will finally be able to go home. “I could not believe is was finally happening. My husband and I have been through so much and it has been enough punishment for us. I am so relieved now,” Yousuf told DNA. “The first person I called was my daughter Nisha in Singapore. She was so thrilled,” said Yousuf, a cancer patient.
Their advocates Ayaz Khan and Nilofer Saiyed said that the government has paid the interim-compensation to the three foreigners as directed by the court. The court is likely to pass final orders in the case on August 14.
