The Hindu : National : Memons plead for lesser term

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Friday, Sep 15, 2006
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Memons plead for lesser term

Prachi Pinglay

MUMBAI: The special TADA court hearing the 1993 bomb blasts case witnessed impassioned speeches as members of the Memon family, convicted on Tuesday under various charges, pleaded for a lesser term.

"Why are those named by the Srikrishna Commission not punished? At least start their trial. We have already been convicted," said an emotional Yakub Memon when he was speaking in the TADA court today. The four Memon family members who have been convicted in the 1993 blasts case had been called to make their statements regarding the conviction and on point of sentence.

Yakub, who had got a written submission with him, was asked to speak instead of presenting a written submission. He told the judge that he wanted to speak about his personal life before he spoke about the sentencing. Though prosecution objected, Memon's new defence lawyer Harshad Ponda said that these were relevant to his plea for leniency.

Yakub, 44, a chartered accountant, started with details of his education and then went on to explain his relation with his brother and absconding prime accused Tiger Memon. He said, "I feel I have been dragged into this case only because of my brother, Ibrahim Abdul Razzak Memon [Tiger Memon]. From childhood I have never bothered about his life. I was busy with my life, studies and career." Saying that he has never engaged in criminal activities, he said that as his brother was a non-resident Indian, he stayed with them only on occasional visits.

Pleads for leniency

Requesting for leniency in the sentence that could extend to life imprisonment, Yakub, who has been in custody since his arrest, spoke about his aged and ailing mother who was "shattered on September 12 when the two brothers were taken into custody after they were convicted."

His brother Essa Memon also pleaded leniency on medical grounds as he was suffering from brain tumour. His sister-in-law Rubeena requested for lesser sentence saying that the car carrying explosives that the police found and which was registered in her name, had been purchased before she married Suleiman Memon.

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