MAPUSA: South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar has sought the intervention of the central government for the release of a Goan youth from Siolim, who was recently sentenced to more than 500 years imprisonment in Dubai.
In a letter to the Union Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, the MP said that the incarcerated youth, Ryan D'Souza, was not at fault nor was he involved in the fraud, as was alleged.
“I seek your intervention to give justice to Ryan D’Souza, resident of Siolim, undergoing imprisonment for 500 years at Central Jail in United Arab Emirates (UAE),” Sawaikar said.
It may be recalled a Dubai court recently had sentenced two Goans – Sydney Lemos from Mapusa and Ryan D’Souza from Siolim – to over 500 years each in jail for duping thousands of investors from India, including Goa, and other parts of the world in a $200 million scam.
Sydney Lemos had lured investors by offering huge returns on an investment through his company Exential.
In his letter, Sawaikar explained that the Sioim youth was recruited from India in June 13, 2014 to work in United Arab Emirates as an office administrator for the company “The Exential Group” where he was later promoted to senior accounts specialist.
He also stated that the youth had also invested his parent’s money into the company.
He further said that the youth had resigned from the company in 2017 and as he was leaving UAE on way back home to Goa, he was stopped at Dubai Airport in relation to the fraud committed by the company.
“The parents of the youth along with former BJP minister, Dayanand Mandrekar had approached me seeking help for release of the youth,” Sawaikar said and requested the union minister that concerned officials may be directed to examine the case and take appropriate steps for release of the youth.
It may be recalled in a recent public meeting at Siolim, Water Resources Minister, Vinod Paliencar, Congress leader, Ramakant Khalap and others had promised to request the Centre for the release of the youth.
