After long uncertainty, the family of Ganesh Bahadur Basnet has formally pardoned Durga Bahadur Sunar from his impending death penalty in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sunar, a permanent resident of Parbat district, was handed a death sentence by a regional UAE court in 2010 for the murder of Basnet.

The Basnet family signed Sunar’s pardon letter on Monday after they were assured of Rs 1 million in blood money. The Sunar family received overwhelming support after Sunar’s 64-year old mother, Man Kumari, appealed to the government and the public for help.

The families received over Rs 1.05 million in financial support in just the last month. The government had managed an initial Rs 100,000 as seed money through the Foreign Employment Promotion Board. The remaining amount was donated by the Non Resident Nepali Association of the United Kingdom via chairman Jiba Lamichhane, Chairman Dipak Jung BK of the Naso Community Nepal-America, Chairman Dan Bahadur Gurung of the Parbat Panchase Society UK, Binod Pahadi of Radio Jagaran Nepal, Gold and Sliver Dealers’ Association-Butwal, among numerous others. 

While Rs 1 million will be handed over to the Basnet family, another Rs 65,000 will be provided to Man Kumari at the request of the Non-Resident Nepali Organisation of UK and other personal donors.  

“I am happy that the life of my son has been saved. I would like to thank everyone for their support,” said Man Kumari.  

According to Bhakta Khadka, Basnet’s relative, the family is expected to obtain the blood money on October 9 this year. The Basnet family, for their part, said they were happy to forgive Sunar.

“Our son will not return even if we let his murderer die. He is the only son of a poor mother. It was our fate to lose our son,” said Ambika Basnet, mother of the deceased.

Published on: 26 September 2012 | Kathmandu Post